Notes

with many illustrations in colour and in black-and-white by Helen Stratton.

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University of Florida

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Grimm's

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Grimm's Fairy Tales

WITH MANY
ILLUSTRATIONS IN COLOUR AND BLACK-AND-WHITE
BY HELEN STRATTON

BLACKIE AND SON LIMITED
LONDON GLASGOW DUBLIN BOMBAY

Contents

HANSEL AND GRETTEL .
THE WAGGISH MUSICIAN .
FREDERICK AND CATHERINE .
THE THREE CHILDREN OF FORTUNE
SNOW-DROP .
THE QUEEN BEE .
THE JEW IN THE BUSH .
RUMPEL-STILTS-KIN .
THE FROG-PRINCE .
THE TOM-TIT AND THE BEAR .
THE FISHERMAN AND HIS WIFE .
THE GRATEFUL BEASTS .
ROLAND AND MAYBIRD .
THE GOLDEN BIRD .
THE DOG AND THE SPARROW .
THE TURNIP .
CHERRY, OR THE FROG-BRIDE .
THE LADY AND THE LION .
THE TWELVE DANCING PRINCESSES
THE KING OF THE GOLDEN MOUNTAIN
OLD SULTAN .
KING GRISLY-BEARD .
THE GIANT WITH THE THREE GOLDEN HAIRS
THE ADVENTURES OF CHANTICLEER AND PARTLET
FAITHFUL JOHN .
THE BLUE LIGHT .
THE CROWS AND THE SOLDIER .
THE GOLDEN GOOSE .
THE JUNIPER-TREE .
HANS AND HIS WIFE GRETTEL .
ROSEBUD .

THE YOUNG GIANT AND THE TAILOR
PEE-WIT .
JORINDA AND JORINDEL .
ASHPUTTEL .
PETER THE GOATHERD .
THE GOOSE-GIRL
THE FOUR CLEVER BROTHERS
THE ELFIN-GROVE .
THE ROBBER-BRIDEGROOM .
MOTHER HOLLE .
THE FIVE SERVANTS
THE SEVEN RAVENS
HANS IN LUCK
MRS. FOX .
THE SALAD
THE TRAVELLING MUSICIANS .
THE WATER OF LIFE
THE NOSE
CAT-SKIN .
THE MOUSE, THE BIRD, AND THE SAUSAGE.
THE ELVES AND THE SHOEMAKER .
TOM THUMB
THE FOX AND THE HORSE .

Illustrations

COLOURED
Page
Hansel is turned into a Fawn Frontispiece
The King finds Grettel .12
The Bee helps the Dwarf to discover the youngest Princess 38
Rumpel-stilts-kin dashes his Foot into the Floor 46
The Woodsman scolds Roland. 69
Roland and Maybird in the Depths of the Wood .70
They begin to eat the Cake and the Sugar 72
Cherry and the Three Princes .97
The Frog and the Prince too
The Little Dogs and the Walnut Shell 102
" He trod on the gown of the youngest princess 14
The Soldier upsets the Stall. .128
Chanticleer gives the Innkeeper an Egg. 138
Chanticleer runs to the Bride .142
The Sisters follow Dummling and his Goose. 166
The wicked Fairy takes her revenge 88
The King's Son discovers Rosebud 19o
Jorinda and Jorindel sit down near the Old Castle 10
Jorindel touches the Cage with the White Flower 212
The Maid refuses to obey the Princess .228
"Blow, Breezes, blow, let Curdken's hat go I" 232
The False Bride is dragged through the Streets in a Cask 236
The Little Girl goes to find her Spindle 255
Hans makes a bargain .273
Hans exchanges the Pig for the Goose 276
Hans watches the Stone sinking .278
The Ass and the Dog take pity on the Cat 291
The Musicians frighten the Robber 296
The Dwarfs dress in the Clothes 323

The Page asks Puss to quit the Castle
" One of the Dwarfs sat by it and watched" .
"The Jew began to dance and spring about"
"A frog put its head out of the water" .
"We are not base-born, you stupid bear"
The Fisherman asks a Boon of the Fish .
They find the wonderful Stone .
" She was forced to dance a merry jig"
" The gardener's son shot an arrow at it"
The Sparrow tries to save the Dog .
"The student listened and wondered much"
"She liked cherries better than any other food"
The Lady asks the Winds to help her
He discovers an enchanted Princess
"The princess took him willingly for her husband"
" He saw three ravens flying towards him"
A Black Dwarf appears in the Smoke
The Soldier marries the Princess
He reaches down to take an apple .
" As she rose the bells jingled"
"See what a fine neck-cloth I have I"
"A fine coach came by ".
"Shake, shake, hazel-tree !"
The Goat in the Cavern .
The Princess and the Dragon .
" She gazed on the fairy scene" .
" They gave her some wine to drink "
" She held out her apron"
" She soon came to the apple-tree "
The Prince and his Servants on watch
The little Girl and the Stars
Hans starts for home
The Fox pretends he is dead
" He knocked at the window". .
"They began their music" .
"On his way home he passed the dwarf"
"Her nose grew and grew" .
The dogs discover Cat-Skin
"At last the thieves found him out"
" The beast began to roar and bellow" .

HANSEL one day took his sister Grettel by the hand, and
said, "Since our poor mother died we have had no happy
days; for our new mother beats us all day long, and when we
go near her, she pushes us away. We have nothing but hard
crusts to eat; and the little dog that lies by the fire is better
off than we, for he sometimes has a nice piece of meat thrown
to him. Oh, if our poor mother knew how we are used!
Come, we will go and travel over the wide world." They
went the whole day walking over the fields, till in the even-
ing they came to a great wood; and then they were so tired
and hungry that they sat down in a hollow tree and went
to sleep.
In the morning when they awoke, the sun had risen high
above the trees, and shone warm upon the hollow tree. Then
Hansel said, "Sister, I am very thirsty; if I could find a
brook, I would go and drink, and fetch you some water too.
Listen, I think I hear the sound of one." Then Hansel rose
up and took Grettel by the hand and went in search of the
brook.
But their cruel stepmother was a fairy, and had followed
them into the wood to work them mischief: and when they
had found a brook that ran sparkling over the pebbles,
Hansel wanted to drink; but Grettel thought she heard the
brook, as it babbled along, say, "Whoever drinks here will

Grimm's Fairy Tales

be turned into a tiger". Then she cried, "Ah, brother do
not drink, or you will be turned into a wild beast and tear
me to pieces." Then Hansel yielded, although he was
parched with thirst. "I will wait," said he, "for the next
brook." But when they came to the next, Grettel listened
again, and thought she heard, "Whoever drinks here will
become a wolf". Then she cried, "Brother, brother, do not
drink, or you will become a wolf and eat me." So he did
not drink, but said, "I will wait for the next brook; there
I must drink, say what you will."
As they came to the third brook, Grettel listened, and
heard, "Whoever drinks here will become a fawn". "Ah,
brother!" said she, "do not drink, or you will be turned into
a fawn and run away from me." But Hansel had already
stooped down upon his knees, and the moment he put his
lips to the water he was turned into a fawn.
Grettel wept bitterly over the poor creature, and the tears
also rolled down his eyes as he laid himself beside her. Then
she said, Rest in peace, dear fawn, I will never, never leave
you." So she took off her golden necklace and put it round
his neck, and plucked some rushes and plaited them into
a soft string to fasten to it; and then she led him farther
into the wood.
After they had travelled a long way, they came at last
to a little cottage; and Grettel, seeing that it was quite
empty, thought to herself, "We can live here". Then she
gathered leaves and moss to make a soft bed for the fawn;
and every morning she went out and plucked nuts, roots,
and berries for herself, and sweet shrubs and tender grass
for her companion; and he ate out of her hand, and was
pleased, and played and frisked about her. In the evening,
when Grettel was tired, and had said her prayers, she laid,
her head upon the fawn for her pillow, and slept: and if poor
Hansel could but have his right form again, they thought
they might lead a very happy life.

"Brother, brother, do not drink !"
9

Grimm's Fairy Tales

They lived thus a long while in the wood by themselves,
till it chanced that the king of that country came to hold
a great hunt. And when the fawn heard all around the
echoing of the horns, and the baying of the dogs, and the
merry shouts of the huntsmen, he wished very much to go
and see what was happening. "Ah, sister, sister!" said he,
"let me go out into the wood, I can stay no longer." And
he begged so long, that she at last. agreed to let him go.
"But," said she, "be sure to come to me in the evening; I
shall shut up the door to keep out those wild huntsmen;
and if you tap at it, and say, 'Sister, let me in', I shall know
you; but if you don't speak, I shall keep the door fast."
Then away sprang the fawn, and frisked and bounded along
in the open air. The king and his huntsmen saw the beauti-
ful creature, and followed, but could not overtake him; for
when they thought they were sure of their prize, he sprang
over the bushes and was out of sight in a moment.
As it grew dark he came running home to the hut, and
tapped, and said, "Sister, sister, let me in." Then she opened
the little door, and in he jumped and slept soundly all night
on his soft bed.
Next morning the hunt began again; and when he heard
the huntsmen's horns, he said, "Sister, open the door for
me, I must go again." Then she let him out, and said,
"Come back in the evening, and remember what you are
to say." When the king and the huntsmen saw the fawn
with the golden collar again, they gave him chase; but he
was too quick for them. The chase lasted the whole day;
but at last the huntsmen nearly surrounded him, and one
of them wounded him in the foot, so that he became sadly
lame and could hardly crawl home. The man who had
wounded him followed close behind, and hid himself, and
heard the little fawn say, "Sister, sister, 'et me in"; upon
which the door opened and soon shut again. The huntsman
marked all well, and went to the king and told him what

Hansel and Grettel

he had seen and heard; then the king said, "Ta-morrow
we will have another chase."
Grettel was very much frightened when she saw that her
dear little fawn was wounded; but she washed the blood
away and put some healing herbs on him, and said, "Now
go to bed, dear fawn, and you will soon be well again." The
wound was so small, that in the morning there was nothing
to be seen of it; and when the horn blew, the little creature
said, "I can't stay here, I must go and look on; I will take
care that none of them shall catch me." But Grettel said,
"I am sure they will kill you this time, I will not let you
go." "I shall die of vexation," answered he, "if you keep
me here: when I hear the horns, I feel as if I could fly."
Then Grettel had to let him go; so she opened the door
with a heavy heart, and he bounded out gaily into the wood.
When the king saw him he said to his huntsmen, "Now
chase him all day long till you catch him; but let none of
you do him any harm." The sun set, however, without their
being able to overtake him, and the king called away the
huntsmen, and said to the one who had watched, "Now
come and show me the little hut." So they went to the
door and tapped, and said, "Sister, sister, let me in." Then
the door opened and the king went in, and there stood a
maiden more lovely than any he had ever seen. Grettel
I

Grimm's Fairy Tales

was frightened to see that it was not her fawn, but a king
with a golden crown that was come into her hut: however,
he spoke kindly to her, and took her hand, and said, "Will
you come with me to my castle and be my wife?" Yes,"
said the maiden; "but my fawn must go with me, I cannot
part with that." "Well," said the king, "he shall come and
live with you all your life, and want for nothing." Just at
that moment in sprang the fawn; and his sister tied the
string to his neck, and they left the hut in the wood together.
Then the king took Grettel to his palace, and celebrated
the marriage in great state. And she told the king all her
story; and he sent for the fairy and punished her: and the
fawn was changed into Hansel again, and he and his sister
loved each other, and lived happily together all their days.

The King finds Grettel

The Waggish Musician

014E day a waggish musician, who played delightfully on the
fiddle, went rambling in a forest in a merry mood. Then
he said to himself, "Time goes rather heavily, I must find a
companion." So he took up his fiddle, and fiddled away till
the wood resounded with his music.
Presently up came a wolf. "Dear me! there's a wolf
coming to see me," said the musician. But the wolf came up
to him, and said, "How very prettily you play! I wish you
would teach me." "That is easily done," said the musician,
"if you will only do what I bid you." "Yes," replied the wolf,
"I will be a very obedient scholar." So they went on a little
way together, and came at last to an old oak-tree that was
hollow within, and had a large crack in the middle of the
trunk. Look there," said the musician, if you wish to learn
to fiddle, put your fore-feet into that crack." The wolf did as
he was bid. But the musician picked up a large stone and
wedged both his fore-feet fast into the crack, so as to make
him a prisoner. "Now be so good as to wait there till I come
back," said he, and jogged on.
After a while, he said again to himself, "Time goes very
heavily, I must find another companion." So he took his
fiddle, and fiddled away again in the wood. Presently up
came a fox that was wandering close by. "Ah! there is a
fox," said he. The fox said, "You delightful musician, how
prettily you play I I must and will learn to play as you do."
"You may soon learn," said the musician, "if you will do
as I tell you." "That I will," said the fox. So they travelled
on together till they came to a narrow footpath with high
bushes on either side. Then the musician bent a stout hazel
i3

Grimm's Fairy Tales

stem down to the ground from one side of the path, and set
his foot on the top, and held it fast; and bent another from
the other side, and said to the fox, Now, pretty fox, if you
want to fiddle, give me hold of your left paw." So the fox
gave him his paw; and he tied it fast to the top of one of
the hazel stems. "Now give me your right," said he. The
fox did as he was told; and the musician tied that paw to
the other hazel. Then he took off his foot, and away up
wflew the bushes; and the fox went too, and hung sprawling
and swinging in the air. Now be so kind as to stay there
till I come back," said the musician, and jogged on.
But he soon said to himself, Time begins to hang heavy,
I must find a companion." So he took up his fiddle, and
fiddled away divinely. Then a hare came running along.
" Ah! there is a hare," said the musician. And the hare said
to him, "You fine fiddler, how beautifully you play! will you
teach me?" "Yes," said the musician, "I will soon do that,
if you will follow my orders." "Yes," said the hare, I will
make a good scholar." Then they went on together very well
'for a long while, till they came to an open space in the wood.
The musician tied a string round the hare's neck, and fastened
the other end to a tree. Now," said he, pretty hare, quick,
jump about, run round the tree twenty times." So the silly
hare did as she was bid: and when she had run twenty
times round the tree, she had twisted the string twenty times
round the trunk, and was fast prisoner; and she might pull
and pull away as long as she pleased, and only pulled the
string faster around her neck. Now wait till I come back,"
said the musician.
But the wolf had pulled and bitten and scratched at the
stone a long while, till at last he had got his feet out and was
at liberty. Then he said in a great passion, I will run after
that rascally musician and tear him in pieces." As the fox
saw him run by, he said, Ah, brother wolf, pray let me down,
the musician has played tricks with me!" So the wolf set to
14

14

The Hare runs round the Tree

9

Grimm's Fairy Tales

work at the bottom of the hazel stem, and bit it in two; and
away went both together to find the musician. As they came
to the hare, she cried out too for help. So they went and
set her free, and all followed the enemy together.
Meantime the musician had been fiddling away, and
found another companion; for a poor wood-cutter had been
pleased with the music, and could hot help following him with
his axe under his arm. The musician was pleased to get
a man for a companion, and behaved very civilly to him, and
played him no tricks, but stopped and played his prettiest
tunes till his heart overflowed for joy. While the wood-cutter
was standing listening, he saw the wolf, the fox, and the hare
coming, and knew by their faces that they were in a great
rage, and coming to do some mischief. So he stood before
the musician with his great axe, as much as to say, "No one
shall hurt him as long as I have this axe". And when the
beasts saw this, they were so frightened that they ran back
into the wood. Then the musician played the wood-cutter
one of his best tunes for his pains, and went on with his
journey.

i 4l 'l It

(B 200)

Frederick and Catherine

THERE was once a man called Frederick: he had a wife
whose name was Catherine, and they had not long been
married. One day Frederick said, "Kate! I am going to
work in the fields; when I come back I shall be hungry,
so let me have something nice cooked, and a good draught
of ale." "Very well," said she, it shall all be ready." When
dinner-time drew nigh, Catherine took a nice steak, which
was all the meat she had, and put it on the fire to fry. The
steak soon began to look brown, and to crackle in the pan;
and Catherine stood by with a fork and turned it: then she
said to herself, "The steak is almost ready, I may as well
go to the cellar for the ale." So she left the pan on the fire,
and took a large jug and went into the cellar and tapped
the ale-cask. The beer ran into the jug, and Catherine stood
looking on. At last it popped into her head, "The dog is
not shut up-he may be running away with the steak; that's
well thought of." So up she ran from the cellar; and sure
enough the rascally cur had got the steak in his mouth, and
was making off with it.
Away ran Catherine, and away ran the dog across the
field; but he ran faster than she, and stuck close to the steak.
"It's all gone, and 'what can't be cured must be endured',"
said Catherine. So she turned round; and as she had run
a good way and was tired, she walked home leisurely to cool
herself.
Now all this time the ale was running too, for Catherine
had not turned the cock; and when the jug was full the liquor
ran upon the floor till the cask was empty. When she got
to the cellar stairs she saw what had happened. My stars!"
( 200) 17 B

Grimm's Fairy Tales

said she, "what shall I do to keep Frederick from seeing
all this slopping about?" So she thought a while; and at last
remembered that there was a sack of fine meal bought at
the last fair, and that if she sprinkled this over the floor it
would suck up the ale nicely. "What a lucky thing," said
she, "that we kept that meal! We have now a good use for
it." So away she went for it: but she managed to set it
down just upon the great jug full of beer, and upset it; and
thus all the ale that had been saved was set swimming on the
floor also. "Ah! well," said she, "when one goes, another
may as well follow." Then she strewed the meal all about
the cellar, and was quite pleased with her cleverness, and
said, "How very neat and clean it looks!"
At noon Frederick came home. "Now, wife," cried he,
"what have you for dinner?" "0 Frederick!" answered she,
"I was cooking you a steak; but while I went to draw the
ale, the dog ran away with it; and while I ran after him, the
ale all ran out; and when I went to dry up the ale with the
sack of meal that we got at the fair, I upset the jug: but the
cellar is now quite dry, and looks so clean!" "Kate, Kate,"
said he, "how could you do all this? Why did you leave the
steak to fry, and the ale to run, and then spoil all the meal?"
"Why, Frederick," said she, "I did not know I was doing
wrong; you should have told me before."
The husband thought to himself, "If my wife manages
matters thus, I must look sharp myself." Now he had a
good deal of gold in the house: so he said to Catherine,
"What pretty yellow buttons these are! I will put them
into a box and bury them in the garden; but take care
that you never go near or meddle with them." "No,
Frederick," said she, that I never will." As soon as he was
gone, there came by some pedlars with earthenware plates
and dishes, and they asked her whether she would buy. "Oh
dear me, I should like to buy very much, but I have no
money: if you had any use for yellow buttons, I might deal
x8

Frederick and Catherine

with you." "Yellow buttons!" said they: "let us have a look
at them." Go into the garden and dig where I tell you, and
you will find the yellow buttons: I dare not go myself." So
the rogues went: and when they found what these yellow
buttons were, they took them all away, and left her plenty
of plates and dishes. Then she set them all about the house
for a show: and when Frederick came back, he cried out,
"Kate, what have you been doing?" "See," said she, "I
have bought all these with your yellow buttons: but I did
not touch them myself; the pedlars went themselves and
dug them up." "Wife, wife," said Frederick, "what a pretty
piece of work you have made! those yellow buttons were
all my money: how came you to do such a thing?" "Why,"
answered she, I did not know there was any harm in it; you
should have told me."
Catherine stood musing for a while, and at last said to
her husband, "Hark ye, Frederick, we will soon get the
gold back: let us run after the thieves!" "Well, we will
try," answered he; "but take some butter and cheese with
you, that we may have something to eat by the way." "Very
well," said she; and they set out. Now as Frederick walked
the faster, he left his wife some way behind. It does not
matter," thought she: "when we turn back, I shall be so
much nearer home than he."
Presently she came to the top of a hill, down the side
of which there was a road so narrow that the cart-wheels
always chafed the trees on each side as they passed. "Ah,
see now," said she, "how they have bruised and wounded
those poor trees; they will never get well." So she took
pity on them, and made use of the butter to grease them
all, so that the wheels might not hurt them so much. While
she was doing this kind office, one of her cheeses fell out
of the basket, and rolled down the hill. Catherine looked,
but could not see where it was gone; so she said, "Well, I
suppose the other will go the same way and find you; he

Grimm's Fairy Tales

has younger legs than I have." Then she rolled the other
cheese after it: and away it went, nobody knows where,
down the hill. But she said she supposed they knew the
road, and would follow her, and she could not stay there
all day waiting for them.
At last she overtook Frederick, who desired her to give
him something to eat. Then she gave him the dry bread.
" Where are the butter and cheese?" said he. Oh!" answered
she, "I used the butter to grease those poor trees that the
wheels chafed so: and one of the cheeses ran away, so I sent
the other after it to find it, and I suppose they are both on
the road together somewhere." "What a goose you are to
do such silly things!" said the husband. "How can you
say so?" said she; "I am sure you never told me not."
They ate the dry bread together; and Frederick said,
"Kate, I hope you locked the door safe when you came
away." "No," answered she; "you did not tell me." "Then
go home, and do it now before we go any farther," said
Frederick, "and bring with you something to eat."
Catherine did as he told her, and thought to herself by
the way, "Frederick wants something to eat; but I don't
think he is very fond of butter and cheese; I'll bring him
a bag of fine nuts, and the vinegar, for I have often seen
him take some."
When she reached home, she bolted the back-door, but
the front-door she took off the hinges, and said, "Frederick
told me to lock the door, but surely it can nowhere be so
safe as if I take it with me." So she took her time by the
way; and when she overtook her husband she cried out,
"There, Frederick, there is the door itself, now you may
watch it as carefully as you please." "Alas! alas!" said
he, "what a clever wife I have! I sent you to make the
house fasf, and you take the door away, so that everybody
may go in and out as they please. However, as you have
brought the door, you shall carry it about with you for your
20

Catherine takes pity on the Trees
a1

Grimm's Fairy Tales

pains." "Very well," answered she, "I'll carry the door; but
I'll not carry the nuts and vinegar-bottle also,-that would
be too much of a load; so, if you please, I'll fasten them
to the door."
Frederick of course made no objection to that plan, and
they set off into the wood to look for the thieves; but they
could not find them: and when it grew dark, they climbed
up into a tree to spend the night there. Scarcely were
they up, when who should come along but the very rogues
they were looking for. They were in truth great rascals,
and belonged to that class of people who find things before
they are lost. They were tired; so they sat down and made
a fire under the very tree where Frederick and Catherine
were. Frederick slipped down on the other side, and picked
up some stones. Then he climbed up again, and tried to
hit the thieves on the head with them: but they only said,
"It must be near morning, for the wind shakes the fir-apples
down."
Catherine, who had the door on her shoulder, began to
be very tired; but she thought it was the nuts upon it that
were so heavy: so she said softly, "Frederick, I must let
the nuts go." "No," answered he, "not now, they will dis-
cover us." "I can't help that, they must go." "Well then,
make haste and throw them down, if you will." Then away
rattled the nuts down among the boughs; and one of the
thieves cried, "Bless me, it is hailing!"
A little while after, Catherine thought the door was still
very heavy; so she whispered to Frederick, "I must throw
the vinegar down." "Pray don't," answered he, "it will dis
cover us." "I can't help that," said she, "go it must." So
she poured all the vinegar down; and the thieves said, What
a heavy dew there is!"
At last it popped into Catherine's head that it was the
door itself that was so heavy all the time: so she whispered,
"Frederick, I must throw the door down soon," But he

Frederick and Catherine
begged and prayed her not to do so, for he was sure it would
betray them. "Here goes, however," said she: and down
went the door with such a clatter upon the thieves, that they
cried out "Murder!" and not knowing what was coming,
ran away as fast as they could, and left all the gold. So
Catherine was right at last! And when she and Frederick
came down they found all their money safe and sound.

The Three Children of Fortune

ONCE upon a time a father sent for his three sons, and gave
to the eldest a cock, to the second a scythe, and to the third
a cat. "I am now old," said he, "my end is approaching,
and I would fain provide for you before I die. Money I
have none, and what I now give you seems of but little
worth; yet it rests with yourselves alone to turn my gifts
to good account. Only seek out for a land where what you
have is as yet unknown, and your fortune is made."
After the death of the father, the eldest set out with his
cock: but wherever he went, in every town he saw from afar
off a cock sitting upon the church steeple, and turning round
with the wind. In the villages he always heard plenty of
them crowing, and his bird was therefore nothing new; so
there did not seem much chance of his making his fortune.
At length it happened that he came to an island where the
people had never heard of a cock, and knew not even how
to reckon the time. They knew, indeed, if it were morning
or evening; but at night, if they lay awake, they had no
means of knowing how time went. "Behold," said he to
them, "what a noble animal this is! how like a knight he is!
he carries a bright red crest upon his head, and spurs upon
his heels; he crows three times every night, at stated hours,
and at the third time the sun is about to rise. But this is
not all; sometimes he screams in broad daylight, and then
you must take warning, for the weather is surely about to
change." This pleased the natives mightily; they kept
awake one whole night, and heard to their great joy, how
gloriously the cock called the hours, at two, four, and six
o'clock. Then they asked him whether the bird was to be

h.9 j~
U~

The Page asks Puss to quit the Castle
25

Grimm's Fairy Tales

sold, and how much he would sell it for. "About as much
gold as an ass can carry," said he. "A very fair price for
such an animal," cried they with one voice; and agreed to
give him what he asked.
When he returned home with his wealth, his brothers
wondered greatly;' and the second said, "I will now set
forth likewise, and see if I can turn my scythe to as good
an account." There did not seem, however, much likelihood
of this; for go where he would, he was met by peasants who
had as good a scythe on their shoulder as he had. But at
last, as good luck would have it, he came to an island where
the people had never heard of a scythe. There, as soon as
the corn was ripe, they went into the fields and pulled it up;
but this was very hard work, and a great deal of it was lost.
The man then set to work with his scythe; and mowed down
their whole crop so quickly, that the people stood staring
open-mouthed with wonder. They were willing to give him
what he asked for such a marvellous thing; but he only took
a horse laden with as much gold as it could carry.
Now the third brother had a great longing to go and
see what he could make of his cat. So he set out: and at
first it happened to him as it had to the others, so long as
he kept upon the mainland, he met with no success; there
were plenty of cats everywhere, indeed too many, so that
the young ones were for the most part, as soon as they came
into the world, drowned in the water. At last he passed
over to an island, where, as it chanced most luckily for him,
nobody had ever seen a cat; and they were overrun with
mice to such a degree, that the little wretches danced upon
the tables and chairs, whether the master of the house were
at home or not. The people complained loudly of this
grievance; the king himself knew not how to rid himself of
them in his palace: in every corner mice were squeaking,
and they gnawed everything that their teeth could lay hold
pf. Here was a fine field for Puss-she soon began her

The Three Children of Fortune

chase, and had cleared two rooms in the twinkling of an
eye; when the people besought their king to buy the wonder-
ful animal, for the good of the public, at any price. The
king willingly gave what was asked-a mule laden with gold
and jewels; and thus the third brother returned home with
a richer prize than either of the others.
Meantime the cat feasted away upon the mice in the
royal palace, and devoured so many that they were no longer
in any great numbers. At length, quite spent and tired
with her work, she became extremely thirsty; so she stood
still, drew up her head, and cried, "Miau, Miau!" The
king gathered together all his subjects when they heard
this strange cry, and many ran shrieking in a great fright
out of the palace. But the king held a council below as to
what was best to be done; and it was at length fixed to
send a herald to the cat, to warn her that if she did not leave
the castle forthwith, force would be used to remove her.
" For," said the counsellors, we would far more willingly put
up with the mice (since we are used to that evil), than get rid
of them at the risk of our lives." A page accordingly went,
and asked the cat, "whether she were willing to quit the
castle?" But Puss, whose thirst became every moment more
and more pressing, answered nothing but "Miau, Miau!"
which the page interpreted to mean "Nol Nol" and there-
fore carried this answer to the king. Well," said the coun-
sellors, "then we must try what force will do." So the guns
were planted, and the palace was fired upon from all sides.
When the fire reached the room where the cat was, she
sprang out of the window and ran away; but the besiegers
did not see her, and went on firing until the whole palace
was burnt to the ground.

Snow-Drop

IT was in the middle of winter when the broad flakes of snow
were falling around, that a certain queen sat working at a
window the frame of which was made of fine black ebony;
and as she was looking out upon the snow, she pricked her
finger, and three drops of blood fell upon it. Then she gazed
thoughtfully upon the red drops which sprinkled the white
snow, and said, "Would that my little daughter may be as
white as that snow, as red as the blood, and as black as the
ebony window-frame!" And so the little girl grew up: her
skin was as white as snow, her cheeks as rosy as the blood,
and her hair as black as ebony; and she was called Snow-
drop.
But this queen died; and the king soon married another
wife, who was very beautiful, but so proud that she could not
bear to think that anyone could surpass her. She had a
magic looking-glass, to which she used to go and gaze upon
herself in it, and say:
"Tell me, glass, tell me true!
Of all the ladies in the land,
Who is the fairest? tell me who?"

And the glass answered:
"Thou, queen, are fairest in the land."

But Snow-drop grew more and more beautiful; and when
she was seven years old, she was as bright as the day, and
fairer than the queen herself. Then the glass one day answered
the queen when she went to consult it as usual:
"Thou, queen, may'st fair and beauteous be,
But Snow-drop is lovelier far than thee I"
28

Snow-Drop

When she heard this she turned pale with rage and envy;
and called to one of her servants and said, Take Snow-drop
away into the wide wood, that I may never see her more."
Then the servant led her away; but his heart melted when
she begged him to spare her life, and he said, "I will not hurt
thee, thou pretty child." So he left her by herself; and
though he thought it most likely that the wild beasts would
tear her in pieces, he felt as if a great weight were taken off
his heart when he had made up his mind not to kill her, but
leave her to her fate.
Then poor Snow-drop wandered along through the wood
in great fear; and the wild beasts roared about her, but none
did her any harm. In the evening she came to a little cottage,
and went in there to rest herself, for her little feet would carry
her no farther. Everything was spruce and neat in the cottage:
on the table was spread a white cloth, and there were seven
little plates with seven little loaves, and seven little glasses
with wine in them; and knives and forks laid in order; and
by the wall stood seven little beds. Then, as she was very
hungry, she picked a little piece off each loaf, and drank a
very little wine out of each glass; and after that she thought
she would lie down and rest. So she tried all the little beds;
and one was too long, and another was too short, till at last
the seventh suited her; and there she laid herself down and
went to sleep. Presently in came the masters of the cottage,
who were seven little dwarfs that lived among the mountains,
and dug and searched about for gold. They lighted up their
seven lamps, and saw directly that all was not right. The first
said, Who has been sitting on my stool?" The second, "Who
has been eating off my plate?" The third, "Who has been
picking my bread?" The fourth, "Who has been meddling
with my spoon?" The fifth, Who has been handling my
fork?" The sixth, "Who has been cutting with. my knife?"
The seventh, "Who has been drinking my wine?" Then the
first looked round and said, "Who has been lying on my
29

Grimm's Fairy Tales

bed?" And the rest came running to him, and everyone
cried out that somebody had been upon his bed. But the
seventh saw Snow-drop, and called all his brethren to come
and see her; and they cried out with wonder and astonish-
ment, and brought their lamps to look at her; and said,
"What a lovely child she is!" And they were delighted to
see her, and took care not to wake her; and the seventh dwarf
slept an hour with each of the other dwarfs in turn, till the
night was gone.
In the morning Snow-drop told them all her story; and
they pitied her, and said if she would keep all things in order,
and cook and wash, and knit and spin for them, she might
stay where she was, and they would take good care of her.
Then they went out all day long to their work, seeking for
gold and silver in the mountains; and Snow-drop remained at
home: and they warned her, and said, "The queen will soon
find out where you are, so take care and let no one in."
But the queen, now that she thought Snow-drop was dead,
believed that she was certainly the handsomest lady in the
land; and she went to the glass and said:
"Tell me, glass, tell me true
Of all the ladies in the land,
Who is fairest? tell me who?"

And the glass answered:
"Thou, queen, art the fairest in all this land;
But over the hills, in the greenwood shade,
Where the seven dwarfs their dwelling have made,
There Snow-drop is hiding her head; and she
Is lovelier far, O queen! than thee."

Then the queen was very much alarmed; for she knew
that the glass always spoke the truth, and was sure that the
servant had betrayed her. And she could not bear to think
that anyone lived who was more beautiful than she was; so
30

Snow-Drop

she disguised herself as an old pedlar, and went her way over
the hills to the place where the dwarfs dwelt. Then she
knocked at the door, and cried, "Fine wares to sell!" Snow-
drop looked out at the window, and said, "Good-day, good
woman; what have you to sell?" "Good wares, fine wares,"
said she; "laces and bobbins of all colours." "I will let
the old lady in; she seems to be a very good sort of body,"
thought Snow-drop; so she ran down, and unbolted the door.
"Bless me!" said the old woman, "how badly your stays are
laced I Let me lace them up with one of my nice new laces."
Snow-drop did not dream of any mischief; so she stood up
before the old woman; but she set to work so nimbly, and
pulled the lace so tight, that Snow-drop lost her breath, and
fell down as if she were dead. "There's an end of all thy
beauty," said the spiteful queen, and went away home.
In the evening the seven dwarfs returned; and I need not
say how grieved they were to see their faithful Snow-drop
stretched upon the ground motionless, as if she were quite
dead. However, they lifted her up, and when they found
what was the matter, they cut the lace; and in a little time
she began to breathe, and soon came to life again. Then
they said, "The old woman was the queen herself; take care
another time, and let no one in when we are away."
When the queen got home, she went straight to her glass,
and spoke to it as usual; but to her great surprise it still
said:
"Thou, queen, art the fairest in all this land;
,But over the hills, in the greenwood shade,
Where the seven dwarfs their dwelling have made,
There Snow-drop is hiding her head; and she
Is lovelier far, O queen I than thee."

Then the blood ran cold in her heart with spite and malice
to see that Snow-drop still lived; and she dressed herself up
again in a disguise, but very different from the one she wore
before, and took with her a poisoned comb. When she
31

Grimm's Fairy Tales

reached the dwarfs' cottage, she knocked at the door, and
cried, "Fine wares to sell!" but Snow-drop said, "I dare not
let anyone in." Then the queen said, "Only look at my
beautiful combs;" and gave her the poisoned one. And it
looked so pretty that she took it up and put it into her hair
to try it; but the moment it touched her head the poison was
so powerful that she fell down senseless. "There you may
lie," said the queen, and went her way. But by good luck
the dwarfs returned very early that evening; and when they
saw Snow-drop lying on the ground, they thought what had
happened, and soon found the poisoned comb. And when
they took it away, she recovered, and told them all that had
passed; and they warned her once more not to open the door
to anyone.
Meantime the queen went home to her glass, and trembled
with rage when she received exactly the same answer as
before; and she said, "Snow-drop shall die, if it costs me my
life." So she went secretly into a chamber, and prepared a
poisoned apple: the outside looked very rosy and tempting,
but whoever tasted it was sure to die. Then she dressed
herself up as a peasant's wife, and travelled over the hills to
the dwarfs' cottage, and knocked at the door; but Snow-drop
put her head out of the window, and said, "I dare not let
anyone in, for the dwarfs have told me not." "Do as you
please," said the old woman, "but at any rate take this pretty
apple; I will make you a present of it." "No," said Snow-
drop, "I dare not take it." "You silly girl!" answered the
other, "what are you afraid of? do you think it is poisoned?
Come! do you eat one part, and I will eat the other." Now
the apple was so prepared that one side was good, though
the other side was poisoned. Then Snow-drop was very
much tempted to taste, for the apple looked exceedingly
nice; and when she saw the old woman eat, she could re-
frain no longer. But she had scarcely put the piece into her
mouth, when she fell down dead upon the ground. "This
32

0

n 1

""' 4

One of the Dwarfs sat by it and watched"
( 200oo) .1.-

Grimm's Fairy Tales

time nothing will save thee," said the queen; and she went
home to her glass, and at last it said:
"Thou, queen, art the fairest of all the fair."

And then her envious heart was glad, and as happy as such
a heart could be.
When evening came, and the dwarfs returned home, they
found Snow-drop lying on the ground: no breath passed her
lips, and they were afraid that she was quite dead. They
lifted her up, and combed her hair, and washed her face with
wine and water; but all was in vain, for the little girl seemed
quite dead. So they laid her down upon a bier, and all seven
watched and bewailed her three whole days; and then they
proposed to bury her: but her cheeks were still rosy, and her
face looked just as it did while she was alive; so they said,
"We will never bury her in the cold ground." And they
made a coffin of glass so that they might still look at her,
and wrote her name upon it, in golden letters, and that she
was a king's daughter. And the coffin was placed upon the
hill, and one of the dwarfs always sat by it and watched.
And the birds of the air came too, and bemoaned Snow-drop:
first of all came an owl, and then a raven, but at last came
a dove.
And thus Snow-drop lay for a long long time, and still
only looked as though she were asleep; for she was even now
as white as snow, and as red as blood, and as black as ebony.
At last a prince came and called at the dwarfs' house; and
he saw Snow-drop, and read what was written in golden
letters. Then he offered the dwarfs money, and earnestly
prayed them to let him take her away; but they said, "We
will not part with her for all the gold in the world." At last,
however, they had pity on him, and gave him the coffin: but
the moment he lifted it up to carry it home with him, the
piece of apple fell from between her lips, and Snow-drop
awoke, and said, Where am 1?" And the prince answered,
34

Snow-Drop

"Thou art safe with me." Then he told her all that had
happened, and said, "I love you better than all the world:
come with me to my father's palace, and you shall be my
wife." And Snow-drop consented, and went home with the
prince: and everything was prepared with great pomp and
splendour for their wedding.
To the feast was invited, among the rest, Snow-drop's
old enemy, the queen; and as she was dressing herself'in
fine rich clothes, she looked in the glass and said:
"Tell me, glass, tell me true!
Of all the ladies in the land,
Who is fairest? tell me who?"

And the glass answered:
"Thou, lady, art loveliest here, I ween;
But lovelier far is the new-made queen."

When she heard this, she started with rage; but her envy
and curiosity were so great, that she could not help setting
out to see the bride. And when she arrived, and saw that
it was no other than Snow-drop, who, as she thought, had
been dead a long while, she choked with passion, and fell ill
and died; but Snow-drop and the prince lived and reigned
happily over that land many many years.

The Queen Bee

ONCE upon a time two princes went out into the world to
seek their fortunes; but they soon fell into a wasteful foolish
way of living, so that they could not return home again. Then
their young brother, who was a little insignificant dwarf, went
out to seek for his brothers. But when he had found them
they only laughed at him, to think that he, who was so young
and simple, should try to travel through the world, when they,
who were so much wiser, had been unable to get on. How-
ever, they all set out on their journey together, and came
at last to an ant-hill. The two elder brothers would have
pulled it down, in order to see how the poor ants in their
fright would run about and carry off their eggs. But the
little dwarf said, "Let the poor things enjoy themselves, I
will not suffer you to trouble them."
So on they went, and came to a lake where many many
ducks were swimming about. The two brothers wanted to
catch two, and roast them. But the dwarf said, "Let the
poor things enjoy themselves, you shall not kill them." Next
they came to a bees'-nest in a hollow tree, and there was
so much honey that it ran down the trunk; and the two
36

The Queen Bee

brothers wanted to light a fire under the tree and kill the
bees, so as to get their honey. But the dwarf held them back,
and said, Let the pretty insects enjoy themselves, I cannot
let you burn them."
At length the three brothers came to a castle, and as they
passed by the stables they saw fine horses standing there, but
all were of marble, and no man was to be seen. Then they
went all through the rooms, till they came to a door on which
were three locks; but in the middle of the door was a wicket,
so that they could look into the next room. There they saw
a little gray old man sitting at a table; and they called to
him once or twice, but he did not hear. When they called
a third time, however, he rose and came out to them.
He said nothing, but took hold of them and led them
to a beautiful table covered with all sorts of good things: and
when they had eaten and drunk, he showed each of them
to a bed-chamber.
The next morning he came to the eldest and took him to
a marble table, where were three tablets, which told how the
castle might be disenchanted. The first tablet said-" In the
wood, under the moss, lie the thousand pearls belonging to
the king's daughter; they must all be found, and if one be
missing by set of sun, he who seeks them will be turned into
marble".
The eldest brother set out, and sought for the pearls the
whole day; but the evening came, and he had not found the
first hundred. So he was turned into stone as the tablet had
foretold. The next day the second brother undertook the
task; but he succeeded no better than the first; for he could
only find the second hundred of the pearls, and therefore he,
too, was turned into stone.
At last came the little dwarf's turn. He looked in the
moss for a time; but it was so hard to find the pearls, and
the job was so tiresome that he sat down upon a stone and
cried. Now as he sat there, the king of the ants (whose life
37

Grimm's Fairy Tales

he had saved) came to help him, with five thousand ants; and
it was not long before they had found all the pearls and laid
them in a heap.
The second tablet said-" The key of the princess's bed-
chamber must be fished up out of the lake". And as the
dwarf came to the brink of the lake, he saw, swimming about,
the two ducks whose lives he had saved; and they dived
down and soon brought up the key from the bottom.
The third task was the hardest. It was to choose out the
youngest and the best of the king's three daughters. Now,
they were all beautiful, and all exactly alike; but he was told
that the eldest had eaten a piece of sugar, the next some
sweet syrup, and the youngest a spoonful of honey. His
Stask, therefore, was to guess which had eaten the honey.
Then came the queen of the bees, who had been saved by
the little dwarf from the fire, and she tried the lips of all three.
At last she sat upon the lips of the one that had eaten the
honey, and so the dwarf knew which was the youngest. Thus
the spell was broken, and all who had been turned into stone
awoke, and took their proper forms. And the dwarf married
the youngest and the best of the princesses, and was king
after her father's death; but his brothers married the other
two sisters.

`' '.r
:', ~ ~ ,' .' .I.
4
.... ;," ,- J

,, .,-.
.., ., .. .. ': :,i1 r .. ... .

,- ,. ,.- ,.

The Bee helps the Dwarf to discover the youngest Princess

h

-e
i-
----.
~
;~-

~ji~SE

The Jew in the Bush

A FARMER had a faithful and diligent servant, who had
worked hard for him three years, without having been
paid any wages. At last it came into the man's head that
he would not go on thus without pay any longer; so he
went to his master, and said, I have worked hard for you
a long time, I will trust to you to give me what I deserve
to have for my trouble." The farmer was a sad miser, and
knew that his man was very simple-hearted; so he took out
threepence, and gave him for every year's service a penny.
The poor fellow thought it was a great deal of money to
have, and said to himself, "Why should I work hard, and
live here on bad fare any longer? I can now travel into
the wide world, and make myself merry." With that he
put his money into his purse, and set out roaming over
hill and valley.
As he jogged along over the fields, singing and dancing,
a little dwarf met him, and asked him what made him so
merry. "Why, what should make me down-hearted?" said
he; "I am sound in health and rich in purse, what should
I care for? I have saved up my three years' earnings,
and have it all safe in my pocket." "How much may it
come to?" said the little man. "Full threepence," replied
the countryman. "I wish you would give them to me,"
said the other; I am very poor." Then the man pitied him,
and gave him all he had; and the little dwarf said in return,
"As you have such a kind honest heart, I will grant you three
wishes--one for each penny; so choose whatever you like."
Then the countryman rejoiced at his good luck, and said,
"I like many things better than money: first, I will have
39

Grimm's Fairy Tales

a bow that will bring down everything I shoot at; secondly
a fiddle that will set everyone dancing that hears me play
upon it; and thirdly, I should like that everyone should
grant what I ask." The dwarf said he should have his
three wishes; so he gave him the bow and fiddle and went
his way.
Our honest friend journeyed on his way too; and if
he was merry before, he was now ten times more so. He
had not gone far before he met an old Jew: close by them
stood a tree, and on the topmost twig sat a thrush singing
away most joyfully. "Oh, what a pretty bird!" said the
Jew; "I would give a great deal of money to have such
a one." "If that's all," said the countryman, "I will soon
bring it down." Then he took up his bow, and down fell
the thrush into the bushes at the foot of the tree. The Jew
crept into the bush to find it; but directly he had got into
the middle, his companion took up his fiddle and played
away, and the Jew began to dance and spring about, capering
higher and higher in the air. The thorns soon began to
tear his clothes till they all hung in rags about him, and
he himself was all scratched and wounded, so that the
blood ran down. "Oh, for pity's sake!" cried the Jew,
"master! master! pray let the fiddle alone. What have
I done to deserve this?" "You have shaved many a poor
soul close enough,' said the other; "you are only meeting
your reward:" so he played up another tune. Then the Jew
began to beg and promise, and offered money for his liberty;
but he did not come up to the musician's price for some time,
and he danced him along brisker and brisker, and the Jew
bid higher and higher, till at last he offered a round hundred
of florins that he had in his purse, and had just gained by
cheating some poor fellow. When the countryman saw so
much money, he said, "I will agree to your proposal." So
he took the purse, put up his fiddle, and travelled on very
well pleased with his bargain.

#9/

I
t

"The Jew began to dance and spring about"
41

^
-"-"**---, *

:.:
:*\

Grimm's Fairy Tales

Meanwhile the Jew crept out of the bush half-naked and
in a piteous plight, and began to ponder how he should
take his revenge and serve his late companion some trick.
At last he went to the judge, and complained that a rascal
had robbed him of his money, and beaten him into the
bargain; and that the fellow who did it carried a bow at
his back and a fiddle hung round his neck. Then the
judge sent out his officers to bring up the accused wherever
they should find him; and he was soon caught and brought
up to be tried.
The Jew began to tell his tale, and said he had been
robbed of his money. "No, you gave it me for playing
a tune to you," said the countryman; but the judge told
him that was not likely, and cut the matter short by
ordering him off to the gallows.
So away he was taken; but as he stood on the steps
he said, My Lord Judge, grant me one last request." Any-
thing but thy life," replied the other. "No," said he, "I do
not ask my life; only let me play upon my fiddle for the
last time." The Jew cried out, "Oh, no! no! don't listen
to him! don't listen to him!" But the judge said, "It is
only for this once, he will soon have done." The fact was,
he could not refuse the request, on account of the dwarf's
third gift.
Then the Jew said, "Bind me fast, bind me fast, for pity's
sake." But the countryman seized his fiddle, and struck up
a tune, and at the first note judge, clerks, and jailer were in
motion; all began capering, and no one could hold the Jew.
At the second note the hangman let his prisoner go, and
danced also, and by the time he had played the first bar of
the tune, all were dancing together-judge, court, and Jew,
and all the people who had followed to look on. At first the
thing was merry and pleasant enough; but when it had gone
on a while, and there seemed to be no end of playing or
dancing, they began to cry out, and beg him to leave off; but
42

The Jew in the Bush
he stopped not a whit because of their entreaties, till the
judge not only gave him his life, but promised to return him
the hundred florins.
Then he called to the Jew, and said, "Tell us now, you
vagabond, where you got that gold, or I will play on for
your amusement only." "I stole it," said the Jew in the
presence of all the people: "I acknowledge that I stole it,
and that you earned it fairly." Then the countryman stopped
his fiddle, and left the Jew to take his place at the gallows.

Rumpel-Stilts-Kin

IN a certain kingdom once lived a poor miller who had a
very beautiful daughter. She was, moreover, exceedingly
shrewd and clever; and the miller was so vain and proud of
her that he one day told the king of the land that his
daughter could spin gold out of straw. Now this king was
very fond of money; and when he heard the miller's boast, his
avarice was excited, and he ordered the girl to be brought
before him. Then he led her to a chamber where there was
a great quantity of straw, gave her a spinning-wheel, and
said: "All this must be spun into gold before morning, as
you value your life." It was in vain that the poor maiden
declared that she could do no such thing, the chamber was
locked and she remained alone.
She sat down in one corner of the room and began to
lament over her hard fate, when on a sudden the door opened,
and a droll-looking little man hobbled in, and said: "Good-
morrow to you, my good lass, what are you weeping for?"
"Alas!" answered she, "I must spin this straw into gold,
and I know not how."

Rumpel-Stilts-Kin

"What will you give me," said the little man, "to do it for
you?"
"My necklace," replied the maiden.
He took her at her word, and set himself down to the
wheel. Round about the wheel went merrily, and presently
the work was done and the gold all spun.
When the king came and saw this, he was greatly as-
tonished and pleased; but his heart grew still more greedy of
gain, and he shut up the poor miller's daughter again with a
fresh task. Then she knew not what to do, and sat down
once more to weep; but the little man presently opened the
door, and said: What will you give me to do your task?"
"The ring on my finger," replied she.
So her little friend took the ring, and began to work at the
wheel, and by the morning all was finished again.
The king was vastly delighted to see all this glittering
treasure; but still he was not satisfied, and took the miller's
daughter into a yet larger room full of straw, and said: "All

Grimm's Fairy Tales

this must be spun to-night; and if you succeed, you shall be
my queen."
As soon as she was alone the dwarf came in, and said;
"What will you give me to spin gold for you this time?"
I have nothing left," said she.
"Then promise me," said the little man, "your first little
child when you are queen."
"That may never be," thought the miller's daughter; and
as she knew no other way to get her task done, she promised
him what he asked, and he span once more the whole heap of
gold. The king came in the morning, and finding all he
wanted, married her, and so the miller's daughter really
became queen.
At the birth of her first little child the queen rejoiced very
much, and forgot the little man and her promise; but one
day he came into her chamber and reminded her of it. Then
she grieved sorely at her misfortune, and offered him all the
treasures of the kingdom instead of the child, but in vain.
At last, however, her tears softened him, and he said: I will
give you three days' grace, and if during that time you tell me
my name, you shall keep your child."
Now the queen lay awake all night, thinking of all the odd
names she had ever heard, and despatched messengers all
over the land to enquire after new ones. The next day the
little man came, and she began with Timothy, Benjamin,
Jeremiah, and all the names she could remember; but to all
of them he said: "That's not my name."
The second day she began with all the comical names she
could hear of, Bandy-legs, Hunch-back, Crook-shanks, and so
on, but the little gentleman still said to every one of them:
"That's not my name."
On the third day one of the messengers came back, and
said: I can hear of no other names; but yesterday, as I was
climbing a high hill among the trees of the forest where the
fox and the hare bid each other good-night, I saw-a little
46

Rumpelstiltskin dashes his Foot into the Floor

r&I

Rumpel-Stilts-Kin

hut, and before the hut burnt a fire, and round about the fire
danced a funny little man upon one leg, and sang:
"Merrily the feast I'll make,
To-day I'll brew, to-morrow bake;
Merrily I'll dance and sing,
For next day will a stranger bring:
Little does my lady dream
Rumpel-Stilts-Kin is my name!"

When the queen heard this, she jumped for joy. Soon
after her little visitor came, and said: "Now, lady, what is my
name?"
"Is it John?" asked she. "No!" "Is it Tom?" "No!"
"Can your name be Rumpel-stilts-kin?"
"Some witch told you that! Some witch told you that!"
cried the little man, and dashed his foot in a rage so deep into
the floor that he was forced to lay hold of it with both hands
to pull it out. Then he made the best of his way off, while
everybody laughed at him for having had all his trouble for
nothing.

The Frog-Prince

ONE fine evening a young princess went into a wood, and sat
down by the side of a cool spring of water. She had a golden
ball in her hand, which was her favourite plaything, and she
amused herself with tossing it into the air and catching it
again as it fell. After a time she threw it up so high, that
when she stretched out her hand to catch it, the ball bounded
away and rolled along upon the ground, till at last it fell into
the spring. The princess looked into the spring after her ball;
but it was very deep, so deep that she could not see the bottom
of it. Then she began to lament her loss, and said, Alas! if
I could only get my ball again, I would give all my fine clothes
and jewels, and everything that I have in the world." Whilst
she was speaking a frog put its head out of the water and
said, "Princess, why do you weep so bitterly?" "Alas!" said
she, what can you do for me, you nasty frog? My golden
ball has fallen into the spring." The frog said, I want not
your pearls and jewels and fine clothes; but if you will love
me and let me live with you, and eat from your little golden
plate, and sleep upon your little bed, I will bring you your
ball again." "What nonsense," thought the princess, "this
silly frog is talking! He can never get out of the well: how-
ever, he may be able to get my ball for me; and therefore I
will promise him what he asks." So she said to the frog,
"Well, if you will bring me my ball, I promise to do all you
require."
Then the frog put his head down, and dived deep under
the water; and after a little while he came up again with the
ball in his mouth, and threw it on the ground. As soon as
the young princess saw her ball, she ran to pick it up, a was

" A frog put its head out of the water "

Sfa 200)

~pB
I

Grimm's Fairy Tales

so overjoyed to have it in her hand again, that she never
thought of the frog, but ran home with it as fast as she could.
The frog called after her, Stay, princess, and take me with
you as you promised;" but she did not stop to hear a word.
The next day, just as the princess had sat down to dinner,
she heard a strange noise, tap-tap, as if somebody was coming
up the marble staircase; and soon afterwards something
knocked gently at the door, and said,
"Open the door, my princess dear,
Open the door to thy true love here!
And mind the words that thou and I said
By the fountain cool in the greenwood shade."

Then the princess ran to the door, and opened it, and there
she saw the frog, whom she had quite forgotten; she was
terribly frightened, and shutting the door as fast as she could,
came back to her seat. The king her father asked her what
had frightened her. There is a nasty frog," said she, "at the
door, who lifted my ball out of the spring last evening: I
promised him that he should live with me here, thinking that
he could never get out of the spring; but there he is at the
door and wants to come in!" While she was speaking the
frog knocked again at the door, and said,
"Open the door, my princess dear,
Open the door to thy true love here!
And mind the words that thou and I said
By the fountain cool in the greenwood shade."

The king said to the young princess, "As you have made a
promise, you must keep it, so go and let him in." She did so,
and the frog hopped into the room, and came up close to the
table. "Pray lift me upon a chair," said he to the princess,
"and let me sit next to you." As soon as she had done this,
the frog said, Put your plate closer to me that I may eat out
of it." This she did, and when he had eaten as much as he

The Frog-Prince

could, he said, Now I am tired; carry me upstairs and put
me into your little bed." And the princess took him up in
her hand and put him upon the pillow of her own little bed,
where he slept all night long. As soon as it was light he
jumped up, hopped downstairs and went out of the house.
"Now," thought the princess, "he is gone, and I shall be
troubled with him no more."
But she was mistaken; for when night came again, she
heard the same tapping at the door, and when she opened it,
the frog came in and slept upon her pillow as before till the
morning broke: and the third night he did the same; but
when the princess awoke on the following morning, she was
astonished to see, instead of the frog, a handsome prince
gazing on her with the most beautiful eyes that ever were
seen, and standing at the head of her bed.
He told her that he had been enchanted by a malicious
fairy, who had changed him into the form of a frog, in which
he was fated to remain till some princess should take him out
of the spring and let him sleep upon her bed for three nights.
"You," said the prince, "have broken this cruel charm, and
now I have nothing to wish for but that you should go with
me into my father's kingdom, where I will marry you, and
love you as long as you live."
The young princess, you may be sure, was not long in
giving her consent; and as they spoke a splendid carriage
drove up with eight beautiful horses decked with plumes of
feathers and golden harness, and behind rode the prince's
servant, the faithful Henry, who had bewailed the misfortune
of his dear master so long and bitterly that his heart had well-
nigh burst. Then all set out full of joy for the prince's king-
dom; where they arrived safely, and lived happily a great
many years.

The Tom-Tit and the Bear

ONE summer day, as the wolf and the bear were walking to-
gether in a wood, they heard a bird singing most delightfully.
" Brother," said the bear, "what can that bird be that is sing-
ing so sweetly?" "Oh!" said the wolf, "that is his majesty
the king of the birds, we must take care to show him all
possible respect." (Now I should tell you that this bird was
after all no other than the tom-tit.) "If that is the case,"
said the bear, "I should like to see the royal palace; so pray
come along and show it to me." "Gently, my friend," said
the wolf, "we cannot see it just yet, we must wait till the
queen comes home."
Soon afterwards the queen came with food in her beak,
and she and the king began to feed their young ones. "Now
for it!" said the bear; and was about to follow them, to see
what was to be seen. "Stop a little, master Bruin," said the
wolf, "we must wait now till their majesties are gone again."
So they marked the hole where they had seen the nest, and
went away. But the bear, being very eager to see the royal
palace, soon came back again, and, peeping into the nest, saw
five or six young birds lying at the bottom of it. "What
nonsense" said Bruin, "this is not a royal palace: I never
saw such a filthy place in my life; and you are no royal
children, you little base-born brats!" When the young tom-
tits heard this they were very angry, and screamed out,
"We are not base-born, you stupid bear! our father and
mother are honest good sort of people: and depend upon it
you shall suffer for your insolence!" At this the wolf and
the bear grew frightened, and ran away to their dens. But
the young tom-tits kept crying and screaming; and when
5?

" We are not base-born, you stupid bear "

Grimm's Fairy Tales

their father and mother came home and offered them food,
they all said, "We will not touch a bit; no, not the leg of
a fly, though we should die of hunger, till that rascal Bruin
has been punished for calling us base-born brats." "Make
yourselves easy, my darlings," said the old king, "you may
be sure he shall meet with his deserts."
So he went out and stood before the bear's den, and cried
out with a loud voice, "Bruin the bear! thou hast shame-
fully insulted our lawful children: we therefore hereby de-
clare bloody and cruel war against thee and thine, which shall
never cease until thou hast been punished as thou so richly
deservest" Now when the bear heard this, he called together
the ox, the ass, the stag, and all the beasts of the earth, in
order to consult about the means of his defence. And the
tom-tit also enlisted on his side all the birds of the air, both
great and small, and a very large army of hornets, gnats,
bees, and flies, and other insects.
As the time approached when the war was to begin, the
tom-tit sent out spies to see who was the commander-in-
chief of the enemy's forces; and the gnat, who was by far
the cleverest spy of them all, flew backwards and forwards
in the wood where the enemy's troops were, and at last hid
himself under a leaf on a tree, close by which the orders of
the day were given out. And the bear, who was standing
so near the tree that the gnat could hear all he said, called to
the fox and said, "Reynard, you are the cleverest of all the
beasts; therefore you shall be our general and lead us to
battle: but we must first agree upon some signal, by which
we may know what you want us to do." Behold," said the
fox, "I have a fine, long, bushy tail, which is very like a
plume of red feathers, and gives me a very warlike air; now
remember, when you see me raise up my tail, you may be
sure that the battle is won, and you have then nothing to do
but to rush down upon the enemy with all your force. On
the other hand, if I drop my tail, the day is lost, and you

The Tom-Tit and the Bear

must run away as fast as you can." Now when the gnat
had heard all this, she flew back to the tom-tit and told him
everything that had passed.
At length the day came when the battle was to be fought;
and as soon as it was light, behold! the army of beasts came
rushing forward with such a fearful sound that the earth
shook. And his majesty the tom-tit, with his troops, came
flying along in warlike array, flapping and fluttering, and
beating the air, so that it was quite frightful to hear; and
both armies set themselves in order of battle upon the field.
Now the tom-tit gave orders to a troop of hornets that at
the first onset they should march straight towards Captain
Reynard, and fixing themselves about his tail, should sting
him with all their might and main. The hornets did as they
were told: and when Reynard felt the first sting, he started
aside and shook one of his legs, but still held up his tail with
wonderful bravery; at the second sting he was forced to drop
his tail for a moment; but when the third hornet had fixed
itself, he could bear it no longer, but clapped his tail between
his legs and scampered away as fast as he could. As soon
as the beasts saw this, they thought of course all was lost,
and scoured across the country in the greatest dismay, leaving
the birds masters of the field.
And now the king and queen flew back in triumph to
their children, and said, "Now, children, eat, drink, and be
merry, for the victory is ours!" But the young birds said,
" No: not till Bruin has humbly begged our pardon for calling
us base-born." So the king flew back to the bear's den, and
cried out, "Thou villain bear! come forthwith to my abode,
and humbly beseech my children to forgive the insult thou
hast offered them; for, if thou wilt not do this, every bone in
thy wretched body shall be broken to pieces." Then the bear
was forced to crawl out of his den very sulkily, and do what
the king bade him: and after that the young birds sat down
together, and ate and drank and made merry till midnight.
55

The Fisherman and his Wife

THERE was once a fisherman who lived with his wife in a
ditch, close by the sea-side. The fisherman used to go out
all day long a-fishing; and one day, as he sat on the shore
with his rod, looking at the shining water and watching his
line, all on a sudden his float was dragged away deep under
the sea: and in drawing it up he pulled a great fish out of the
water. The fish said to him, "Pray let me live: I am not
a real fish; I am an enchanted prince, put me in the water
again, and let me go." "Oh!" said the man, "you need not
make so many words about the matter; I wish to have no-
thing to do with a fish that can talk; so swim away as soon
as you please." Then he put him back into the water, and
the fish darted straight down to the bottom, and left a long
streak of blood behind him.
When the fisherman went home to his wife in the ditch,
he told her how he had caught a great fish, and how it had
told him that it was an enchanted prince, and that on hearing
it speak he had let it go again. "Did you not ask it for
anything?" said the wife. "No," said the man; "what should
I ask for?" "Ah!" said the wife, "we live very wretchedly
here in this nasty stinking ditch; do go back, and tell the
fish we want a little cottage."
The fisherman did not much like the business: however, he
went to the sea, and when he came there the water looked all
yellow and green. And he stood at the water's edge, and said:
0 man of the sea
Come listen to me,
For Alice my wife,
The plague of my life,
Hath sent me to beg a boon of thee !"
56

The Fisherman and his Wife

Then the fish came swimming to him, and said, "Well,
what does she want?" "Ah!" answered the fisherman, "my
wife says that when I had caught you, I ought to have asked
you for something before I let you go again; she does not
like living any longer in the ditch, and wants a little cottage."
"Go home, then," said the fish; "she is in the cottage al-
ready." So the man went home, and saw his wife standing
at the door of a cottage. "Come in, come in," said she; "is
not this much better than the ditch?" And there was a
parlour, and a bed-chamber, and a kitchen; and behind the
cottage there was a little garden with all sorts of flowers and
fruits, and a courtyard full of ducks and chickens. "Ah!"
said the fisherman, "how happily we shall live!" "We will
try to do so at least," said his wife.
Everything went right for a week or two, and then Dame
Alice said, "Husband, there is not room enough in this
cottage, the courtyard and garden are a great deal too small;
I should like to have a large stone castle to live in; so go
to the fish again, and tell him to give us a castle." "Wife,"
said the fisherman, "I don't like to go to him again, for
perhaps he will be angry; we ought to be content with the
cottage." "Nonsense!" said the wife; "he will do it very
willingly; go along and try."
The fisherman went; but his heart was heavy: and when
he came to the sea it looked blue and gloomy, though it was
quite calm, and he went close to it, and said:
"0 man of the sea I
Come listen to me,
For Alice my wife,
The plague of my life,
Hath sent me to beg a boon of thee I"

"Well, what does she want now?" said the fish. "Ah!"
said the man very sorrowfully, "my wife wants to live in a
stone castle." Go home, then," said the fish; "she is stand-

Grimm's Fairy Tales

ing at the door of it already." So away went the fisherman,
and found his wife standing before a great castle. See,"
said she, "is not this grand?" With that they went into the
castle together, and found a great many servants there, and
the rooms all richly furnished and full of golden chairs and
tables; and behind the castle was a garden, and a wood half
a mile long, full of sheep, and goats, and hares, and deer;
and in the courtyard were stables and cowhouses. "Well!"
said the man, now we will live contented and happy in this
beautiful castle for the rest of our lives." Perhaps we may,"
said the wife; "but let us consider and sleep upon it before
we make up our minds." So they went to bed.
The next morning, when Dame Alice awoke, it was broad
daylight, and she jogged the fisherman with her elbow, and
said, Get up, husband, and bestir yourself, for we must be
king of all the land." Wife, wife," said the man, "why
should we wish to be king? I will not be king." "Then
I will," said Alice. "But, wife," answered the fisherman,
"how can you be king? the fish cannot make you a king."
"Husband," said she, "say no more about it, but go and try;
I will be king!" So the man went away, quite sorrowful to
think that his wife should want to be king. The sea looked
a dark-gray colour, and was covered with foam as he cried
out:
0 man of the sea!
Come listen to me,
For Alice my wife,
The plague of my life,
Hath sent me to beg a boon of thee I"

"Well, what would she have now?" said the fish. "Alas!"
said the man, "my wife wants to be king." "Go home,"
said the fish; "she is king already."
Then the fisherman went home; and as he came close to
the palace, he saw a troop of soldiers, and heard the sound
of drums and trumpets; and when he entered, he saw his

The Fisherman asks a Boon of the Fish
59

Grimm's Fairy Tales

wife sitting on a high throne of gold and diamonds, with a
golden crown upon her head; and on each side of her stood
six beautiful maidens, each a head taller than the other.
"Well, wife," said the fisherman, "are you king?" "Yes,"
said she, "I am king." And when he had looked at her for
a long time, he said, "Ah, wife! what a fine thing it is to
be king! now we shall never have anything more to wish
for." "I don't know how that may be," said she; "never
is a long time. I am king, 'tis true, but I begin to be tired
of it, and I think I should like to be emperor." "Alas,
wife! why should you wish to be emperor?" said the fisher-
man. "Husband," said she, "go to the fish; I say I will
be emperor." "Ah, wife!" replied the fisherman, "the fish
cannot make an emperor, and I should not like to ask for
such a thing." "I am king," said Alice, "and you are my
slave, so go directly!" So the fisherman was obliged to go;
and he muttered as he went along, "This will come to no
good, it is too much to ask, the fish will be tired at last,
and then we shall repent of what we have done." He soon
arrived at the sea, and the water was quite black and muddy,
and a mighty whirlwind blew over it; but he went to the
shore, and said:
"O man of the sea I
Come listen to me,
For Alice my wife,
The plague of my life,
Hath sent me to beg a boon of thee!"

"What would she have now?" said the fish. "Ah!" said
the fisherman, "she wants to be emperor." "Go home," said
the fish; "she is emperor already."
So he went home again; and as he came near he saw
his wife sitting on a very lofty throne made of solid gold,
with a great crown on her head full two yards high, and on
each side of her stood her guards and attendants in a row,
60

The Fisherman and his Wife

each one smaller than the other, from the tallest giant down
to a little dwarf no bigger than my finger. And before her
stood princes, and dukes, and earls: and the fisherman went
up to her and said, "Wife, are you emperor?" "Yes," said
she, "I am emperor." "Ah!" said the man as he gazed
upon her, "what a fine thing it is to be emperor!" "Hus-
band," said she, "why should we stay at being emperor? I
will be pope next." "0 wife, wife!" said he, "how can you
be pope? there is but one pope at a time in Christendom."
"Husband," said she, I will be pope this very day." "But,"
replied the husband, the fish cannot make you pope." "What
nonsense!" said she; "if he can make an emperor, he can
make a pope, go and try him." So the fisherman went. But
when he came to the shore the wind was raging, and the sea
was tossed up and down like boiling water, and the ships
were in the greatest distress and danced upon the waves
most fearfully; in the middle of the sky there was a little
blue, but towards the south it was all red, as if a dreadful
storm was rising. At this the fisherman was terribly frightened,
and trembled, so that his knees knocked together; but he
went to the shore and said-
O man of the sea!
Come listen to me,
For Alice my wife,
The plague of my life,
Hath sent me to beg a boon of thee!"

"What does she want now?" said the fish. "Ah!" said
the fisherman, "my wife wants to be pope." "Go home,"
said the fish, "she is pope already."
Then the fisherman went home, and found his wife sitting
on a throne that was two miles high; and she had three
great crowns on her head, and around stood all the pomp
and power of the Church; and on each side were two rows
of burning lights, of all sizes, the greatest as large as the

Grimm's Fairy Tales

highest and biggest tower in the world, and the least no
larger than a small rushlight. Wife," said the fisherman,
as he looked at all this grandeur, "are you pope?" "Yes,"
said she, "I am pope." "Well, wife," replied he, "it is a
grand thing to be pope; and now you must be content, for
you can be nothing greater." I will consider of that," said
the wife. Then they went to bed: but Dame Alice could
not sleep all night for thinking what she should be next.
At last morning came, and the sun rose. "Ah!" thought
she as she looked at it through the window, cannot I pre-
vent the sun rising?" At this she was very angry, and
wakened her husband, and said, "Husband, go to the fish
and tell him I want to be lord of the sun and moon." The
fisherman was half asleep, but the thought frightened him
so much, that he started and fell out of bed. "Alas, wife!"
said he, "cannot you be content to be pope?" "No," said
she, I am very uneasy, and cannot bear to see the sun and
moon rise without my leave. Go to the fish directly."
Then the man went trembling for fear; and as he was
going down to the shore a dreadful storm arose, so that the
trees and the rocks shook; and the heavens became black,
and the lightning played, and the thunder rolled; and you
might have seen in the sea great black waves like mountains
with a white crown of foam upon them; and the fisherman
said:
0 man of the sea!
Come listen to me,
For Alice my wife,
The plague of my life,
Hath sent me to beg a boon of thee!"

"What does she want now?" said the fish. "Ah!" said
he, "she wants to be lord of the sun and moon." Go home,"
said the fish, "to your ditch again!" And there they live
to this very day.

The Grateful Beasts

A CERTAIN man, who had lost almost all his money, resolved
to set off with the little that was left him, and travel into the
wide world. Now the first place he came to was a village,
where the young people were running about crying and shout-
ing.
"What is the matter?" asked he.
"See here," answered they, "we have got a mouse that we
make dance to please us. Do look at him: what a droll sight
it is! how he jumps about!"
But the man pitied the poor little thing, and said, Let the
mouse go, and I will give you money." So he gave them
some, and took the mouse and let him run; and he soon
jumped into a hole that was close by, and was out of their
reach.
Then he travelled on and came to another village, and
there the children had got an ass that they made stand on its
hind-legs, and tumble and cut capers, at which they laughed
and shouted, and gave the poor beast no rest. So the good
man gave them some of his money to let the poor creature go
away in peace.
At the next village he came to, the young people had
found a bear that had been taught to dance, and they were
plaguing the poor thing sadly. Then he gave them, too, some
money to let the beast go, and the bear was very glad to get
on his four feet, and seemed quite at his ease and happy again.
But he found that he had given away all the money he had
in the world, and had not a shilling in his pocket. Then said
he to himself, The king has heaps of gold in his treasury that
he never uses; I cannot die of hunger; I hope I shall be for-

Grimm's Fairy Tales

given if I borrow a little, and when I get rich again I will re-
pay it all."
So he managed to get into the treasury, and took a very
little money; but as he came out the king's guards saw him,
and said he was a thief, and took him to the judge, and he
was sentenced to be thrown into the water in a box. The lid
of the box was full of holes to let in air, and a jug of water
and a loaf of bread were given him.
Whilst he was swimming along in the water very sorrow-
fully, he heard something nibbling and biting at the lock; and
all of a sudden it fell off, the lid flew open, and there stood his
old friend the little mouse, who had done him this service.
And then came the ass and the bear, and pulled the box
ashore; and all helped him, because he had been kind to
them.
But now they did not know what to do next, and began
to consult together; when on a sudden a wave threw on the
shore a beautiful white stone that looked like an egg. Then
the bear said, "That's a lucky thing; this is the wonderful
stone, and whoever has it may have everything else that he
wishes."
So the man went and picked up the stone, and wished
for a palace and a garden, and a stud of horses; and his
wish was fulfilled as soon as he had made it. And there he
lived in his castle and garden, with fine stables and horses;
and all was so grand and beautiful, that he never could wonder
and gaze at it enough.
After some time, some merchants passed by that way.
"See," said they, "what a princely palace! The last time we
were here, it was nothing but a desert waste." They were
very curious to know how all this had happened; so they
went in and asked the master of the palace how it had been
so quickly raised.
"I have done nothing myself," answered he, "it is a
wonderful stone that did all."

They find the wonderful Stone

(B 00oo)

Grimm's Fairy Tales

SWhat a strange stone that must be!" said they.
Then he invited them in and showed it to them. They
asked him whether he would sell it, and offered him all their
goods for it; and the goods seemed so fine and costly, that
he quite forgot that the stone would bring him in a moment
a thousand better and richer things, and he agreed to make
the bargain.
Scarcely was the stone, however, out of his hands when
all his riches were gone, and he found himself sitting in his
box in the water, with his jug of water and a loaf of bread by
his side. The. grateful beasts, the mouse, the ass, and the bear,
came directly to help him; but the mouse found she could not
nibble off the lock this time, for it was a great deal stronger
than before. Then the bear said, "We must find the wonder-
ful stone again, or all we can do will be fruitless."
The merchants, meantime, had taken up their abode in the
palace; so away went the three friends, and when they came
near, the bear said, Mouse, go in and look through the key-
hole and see where the stone is kept: you are small, nobody
will see you."
The mouse did as she was told, but soon came back and
said, "Bad news! I have looked in, and the stone hangs
under the looking-glass by a red silk string, and on each side
of it sits a great cat with fiery eyes to watch it."
Then the others took counsel together and said, Go back
again, and wait till the master of the palace is in bed asleep,
then nip his nose and pull his hair." Away went the mouse,
and did as they directed her; and the master jumped up very
angry, and rubbed his nose, and cried, "Those rascally cats
are good for nothing at all, they let the mice eat my very nose
and pull the hair off my head." Then he hunted them out of
the room; and so the mouse had the best of the game.
Next night, as soon as the master was asleep, the mouse
crept in again, and nibbled at the red silken string to which
the stone hung, till down it dropped, and she rolled it along
66

The Grateful Beasts

to the door; but when it got there, the poor little mouse was
quite tired: and said to the ass, "Put in your foot, and lift it
over the threshold." This was soon done: and they took up
the stone, and set off for the water-side.
Then the ass said, How shall we reach the box?"
"That is easily managed," answered the bear; "I can
swim very well, and do you, Donkey, put your fore-feet over
my shoulders;-mind and hold fast, and take the stone in
your mouth: as for you, Mouse, you can sit in my ear."
It was all settled thus, and away they swam. After a
time, the bear began to brag and boast: "We are brave
fellows, are not we, Ass?" said he; "what do you think?"
But the ass held his tongue, and said not a word.
"Why don't you answer me?" said the bear; "you must
be an ill-mannered brute not to speak when you're spoken to."
When the ass heard this, he could hold no longer; so he
opened his mouth, and dropped the wonderful stone. I could
not speak," said he; "did not you know I had the stone in
my mouth? now 'tis lost, and that's your fault."
"Do but hold your tongue and be quiet," said the bear,
"and let us think what's to be done."
Then a council was held: and at last they called together
all the frogs, their wives and families, relations and friends,
and said: "A great enemy is coming to eat you all up; but
never mind, bring us up plenty of stones, and we'll build a
strong wall to guard you." The frogs hearing this were dread-
fully frightened, and set to work, bringing up all the stones
they could find. At last came a large fat frog pulling along
the wonderful stone by the silken string: and when the bear
saw it, he jumped for joy, and said, "Now we have found
what we wanted." So he relieved the old frog of his load,
and told him to tell his friends they might go about their
business as soon as they pleased.
Then the three friends swam off again for the box; and
the lid flew open, and they found that they were but just in
67

Grimm's Fairy Tales

time, for the bread was all eaten, and the jug almost empty.
But as soon as the good man had the stone in his hand, he
wished himself safe and sound in his palace again; and in
a moment there he was, with his garden and his stables and
his horses; and his three faithful friends dwelt with him, and
they all spent their time happily and merrily as long as they
lived.

THERE was once a poor man who went every day to cut
wood in the forest. One day as he went along he heard
a cry like a little child's; so he followed the sound till at
last he saw a very little girl sitting on one of the branches
of a high tree. Its mother had fallen asleep, and a vulture
had taken it out of her lap and flown away with it and left
it on the tree. Then the wood-cutter climbed up, took
the little child down, and said to himself, "I will take this
poor child home and bring it up with my own son Roland."
So he carried the little girl to his cottage; and he called
her May-bird, because he had found her on a tree in May.
So May-bird and Roland grew up together, and they became
very fond of each other.
Now the wood-cutter became very poor, and had nothing
in the world he could call his own, and indeed he had scarcely
bread enough for his wife and the two children to eat. At
last the time came when even that was all gone, and he
knew not where to seek for help in his need. Then at
night, as he lay on his bed and turned himself here and
there, restless and full of care, his wife said to him," Husband,
listen to me. You must take the two children out early
69

Grimm's Fairy Tales

to-morrow morning, give each of them a piece of bread,
and lead them into the midst of the wood where it is
thickest. Then make a fire for them, and leave them alone,
for we can no longer keep them here." "No, wife," said
the husband, "I cannot find it in my heart to leave the
children to the wild beasts of the forest, who would soon
tear them to pieces." "Well, if you will not do as I say,"
answered the wife, "we must all starve together;" and she
let him have no peace until he agreed to her plan.
Meantime the poor children were also lying awake, restless
and weak from hunger, so that they heard all that their
mother said. "Now," thought May-bird to herself, "it is
all up with us;" and she began to weep. But Roland crept
to her bed-side, and said, "Do not be afraid, May-bird, I
will find some help." Then he got up, put on his jacket,
and went out.
The moon shone bright upon the little court before the
cottage, and the white pebbles glittered like daisies on the
green meadows. So he put as many as he could into his
pocket, and then went- back to the house. "Now, May-bird,"
said he, rest in peace;" and he went to bed and fell asleep.
Early in the morning, before the sun had risen, the wood-
man's wife came and awoke them. Get up, children," said
she, "we are going into the wood; there is a piece of bread
for each of you, but take care of it, and keep some for the
afternoon." May-bird took the bread and carried it in her
apron, because Roland had his pockets full of stones. Then
they went into the wood.
When they had walked on for a time, Roland stopped
and looked towards home, and after a while he turned
again, and he did so several times. Then his father said,
"Roland, why do you keep turning and lagging behind so?
Move your legs a little faster." "Ahl father," answered
Roland, "I am stopping to look at my white cat that sits
on the roof, and wants to say good-bye to me." "That
70

rr
, .

'" -' -,

.:. :, =" .,, ..

., ,,.. .. .. .-

-. ." ..; ., ",, .' ', !.'..j ,, t ,- t: ., ,-.,.:

Roland and Maybird in the Depths of the Wood

Roland and May-Bird

is not your cat," said his mother; "'tis the morning sun
shining on the chimney-top." Now Roland had not been
looking at the cat, but had all the while been staying behind
to drop from his pocket one white pebble after another along
the road.
When they came into the midst of the forest, the wood-
man said, "Run about, children, and pick up some wood,
and I will make a fire to keep us all warm." So they piled
up a little heap of brushwood, and set it alight; and as the
flame burnt bright, the mother said, "Now seat yourselves
by the fire, while we go and cut wood in the forest; and
be sure you wait till we come for you." Roland and May-
bird sat by the fireside till the afternoon, and then they
ate their bread. They fancied the woodman was still in
the wood, because they thought they heard the blows of
his axe; but it was a bough which he had cunningly hung
upon a tree, so that the wind blew it backwards and forwards,
and it sounded like the axe as it hit the other boughs. Thus
they waited till evening; but the woodman and his wife kept
away, and no one came to fetch them.
When it was quite dark May-bird began to cry; but
Roland said, Wait awhile till the moon rises." And when
the moon rose, he took her by the hand, and there lay the
pebbles along the ground, glittering like new pieces of money,
and marking out the way. Towards morning they came
again to the woodman's house, and he was glad in his
heart when he saw the children again; for he had grieved
at leaving them alone. His wife also seemed to be glad;
but in her heart she was angry.
Not long after there was again no bread in the house,
and May-bird and Roland heard the wife say to her husband,
"The children found their way home once, and I took it
in good part; but there is only half a loaf of bread left for
them in the house; to-morrow you must take them deeper
into the wood, that they may never come back, or we shall
71

Grimm's Fairy Tales

all be starved." It grieved the husband in his heart to
do as his wife wished, and he thought it would be better
to share their last morsel with the children; but as he had
done as she said once, he did not dare to say no. The
children again heard what they said, and Roland got up
and wanted to gather pebbles as before; but when he came
to the door he found his mother had locked it. Still he
comforted May-bird, and said, "Sleep in peace, dear May-
bird; God is very kind and will help us." Early in the
morning a piece of bread was given to each of them, but
even smaller than the one they had before. Upon the road
Roland crumbled his in his pocket, and often stood still, and
threw a crumb upon the ground. "Why do you lag so
behind, Roland?" said the woodman. I am looking at my
little dove that is sitting upon the roof, and wants to say good-
bye to me." "You silly boy!" said the wife, "that is not your
little dove; it is the morning sun that shines on the chimney-
top." But Roland went on crumbling his bread, and throwing
it on the ground. And thus they went still farther into the
wood, where they had never been before. There they were
again told to sit down by a large fire, and sleep; and the
woodman and his wife said they would come in the evening
and fetch them away. In the afternoon Roland shared May-
bird's bread, because he had strewed all his upon the road;
but the day passed away, and evening passed away too, and
no one came to the poor children. Still Roland comforted
May-bird, and said, "Wait till the moon rises; then I shall
see the crumbs of bread which I have. strewed, and they
will show us the way home."
The moon rose; but when Roland looked for the crumbs,
they were gone; for thousands of little birds in the wood had
found them and picked them up. They set out, however, to
try and find their way home; but they soon lost themselves
in the wilderness, and went on all night and all the next
day, till at last they were so weary that they lay down and
p2

r! '"'
:". -

... .- --, .,- .

They begin to eat the Cake and the Sugar

Roland and May-Bird

fell asleep. When they awoke again they went on as before
for another day, but still did not reach the end of the wood,
and they were very hungry, for they had had nothing to eat.
In the afternoon of the third day they came to a strange
little hut, made of bread, with a roof of cake, and windows
of sparkling sugar. "Now we shall sit down and eat till
we have had enough," said Roland; "I will eat off the roof
for my share; do you eat the windows, May-bird, they will
be nice and sweet for you." But suddenly a sweet pretty
voice called from within:
"Tip, tap! who goes there?"
And the children answered:
"The wind, the wind,
That blows through the air!"
and went on eating. May-bird broke out a round pane of
the window for herself, and Roland tore off a large piece
of cake from the roof. Then the door opened, and a little
old woman came gliding out. At this May-bird and Roland
were so frightened, that they let fall what they had in their
hands. But the old woman shook her head, and said, "Dear
children, where have you been wandering about? Come in
with me and you shall have something good." So she took
them both by the hand, and led them into her little hut,
and brought out plenty to eat-milk and pancakes, with
sugar, apples, and nuts; and then two beautiful little beds
were got ready, and May-bird and Roland laid themselves
down, and were very happy. But the old woman was a
spiteful fairy, and had made her pretty sweetmeat house to
entrap little children. Early in the morning she went to
their little bed, but when she saw the two sleeping and
looking so sweet, she had no pity on them. Then she took
up Roland, and put him in a little coop by himself; and when
he awoke, he found himself behind a grating, shut up as little
73

Grimm's Fairy Tales

chickens are. But she shook May-bird, and called out, Get
up, you lazy little thing, and fetch some water; and go into
the kitchen and cook something good to eat. Your brother
is shut up yonder; I shall first fatten him, and then I think
I shall eat him."
When the fairy was gone, May-bird got up and ran to
Roland, and told him what she had heard, and said, "We
must run away quickly, for the old woman is a bad fairy,
and will kill us." But Roland said, "You must first steal
her fairy wand, that we may save ourselves, if she should
follow." Then May-bird ran back and fetched the magic
wand, and away they went together. When the old fairy
came back, and saw no one at home, she sprang in a great
rage to the window, and looked out into the wide world,
and a long way off she spied May-bird running away with
her dear Roland. "You are already a great way off," said
she, "but you shall still fall into my hands." Then she put
on her boots, which walked several miles at a step, and
scarcely made two steps with them, before she overtook
the children. But May-bird saw that the fairy was coming
after them, and by the help of the wand turned her dear
Roland into a lake, and herself into a swan which swam
about in the middle of it. So the fairy set herself down
on the shore, and threw crumbs of bread to the swan; but
it would not come near her, and she was forced to go home
in the evening, without taking her revenge. Then May-bird
changed herself and her dear Roland back into their own
forms once more, and they went journeying on the whole
night until the dawn of day, when May-bird turned herself
into a beautiful rose, which grew in the midst of a quick-set
hedge, and Roland sat by the side and played upon his flute.
The fairy soon came striding along. "Good piper," said
she, "may I pluck the beautiful rose for myself?" "O yes,"
answered he; "and I will play to you meantime." So when
she had crept into the hedge in a great hurry to gather the

" She was forced to dance a merry jig"
75

Grimm's Fairy Tales

flower (for she well knew what it was), he began to play
upon his flute; and such was the wonderful power of the
music that, whether she liked it or not, she was forced to
dance a merry jig, on and on without any rest. And as
he did not stop playing for a moment, the thorns at length
tore the clothes from off her body, and pricked her sorely,
and there she stuck fast.
Then May-bird was free once more; but she was very
tired, and Roland said, "Now I will hasten home for help,
and by and by we will be married." And May-bird said,
"I shall stay here in the meantime and wait for you; and,
that no one may know me, I shall turn myself into a stone
and lie in the corner of yonder field." Then Roland went
away, and May-bird waited for him. Now Roland met
with another maiden, who pleased him so much that he
stopped where she lived, and forgot his former friend. So
when May-bird had stayed in the field a long time and
found he did not come back, she became quite sorrowful,
and turned herself into a little daisy, and thought to herself,
"Someone will come and tread me under foot, and so my
sorrows will end." But it so happened that as a shepherd
was keeping watch in the field he found the flower, and
thinking it very pretty, took it home and placed it in a box
in his room. From that time everything throve wonderfully
at the shepherd's house. When he got up in the morning,
all the household work was ready done; the room was swept
and cleaned, the fire made, and the water fetched. And in
the afternoon, when he came home, the table-cloth was laid
and a good dinner ready set for him. He could not make
out how all this happened, for he saw no one in his house;
and although it .pleased him well enough, he was at length
troubled to think how it could be, and went to a cunning
woman who lived hard by, and asked her what he should
do. She said, "There must be witchcraft in it. Look out
to-morrow morning early, and see if anything stirs about in
76

Roland and May-Bird

-W

the room; if it does, throw a white cloth at once over it,
and then the witchcraft will be stopped." The shepherd
did as she said, and the next morning saw the box open
and the daisy come out. Then he sprang up quickly and
threw a white cloth over it. In an instant the spell was
broken, and May-bird stood before him; and as she was
so beautiful he asked her if she would marry him. She said,
"No," because she wished to be faithful to her dear Roland;
but she agreed to stay and keep house for him.
Time passed on, and Roland was to be married to the
maiden that he had found; and according to an old custom
in that land, all the maidens were to come and sing songs
in praise of the bride and bridegroom. But May-bird was
so grieved when she heard that her dearest Roland had
forgotten her, and was to be married to another, that her
heart seemed as if it would burst within her, and she would
not go for a long time. At length she was forced to go
77

Grimm's Fairy Tales

with the rest; but she kept hiding herself behind the others
until she was left the last. Then she could not any longer
help coming forward; and the moment she began to sing,
Roland sprang up, and cried out, "That is the true bride,
I will have no other than her!" for he knew her by the
sound of her voice; and all that he had forgotten came back
into his mind, and his heart was opened towards her. So
faithful May-bird was married to her dear Roland, and from
that time forward she lived happily.

The Golden Bird

A CERTAIN king had a beautiful garden, and in the garden
stood a tree which bore golden apples. These apples were
always counted, and about the time when they began to grow
ripe it was found that every night one of them was gone.
The king became very angry at this, and ordered the gardener
to keep watch all night under the tree. The gardener set his
eldest son to watch; but about twelve o'clock he fell asleep,
and in the morning another of the apples was missing. Then
the second son was ordered to watch; and at midnight he too
fell asleep, and in the morning another apple was gone. Then
the third son offered to keep watch; but the gardener at first
would not let him, for fear some harm should come to him:
however, at last he consented, and the young man laid himself
under the tree to watch. As the clock struck twelve he heard
a rustling noise in the air, and a bird came flying that was of
pure gold; and as it was snapping at one of the apples with
its beak, the gardener's son jumped up and shot an arrow at it.
But the bird was not harmed by the arrow; only it dropped a
golden feather from its tail, and then flew away. The golden
feather was brought to the king in the morning, and all the
council was called together. Everyone agreed that it was worth
more than all the wealth of the kingdom: but the king said,
"One feather is of no use to me, I must have the whole bird."
Then the gardener's eldest son set out and thought to find
the golden bird very easily; and when he had gone but a
little way, he came to a wood, and by the side of the wood he
saw a fox sitting; so he took his bow and made ready to
shoot at it. Then the fox said, Do not shoot me, for I will
give you good counsel; I know what your business is, and
79

Grimm's Fairy Tales

that you want to find the golden bird. You will reach a
village in the evening; and when you get there, you will see
two inns opposite to each other, one of which is very pleasant
and beautiful to look at: go not in there, but rest for the
night in the other, though it may appear to you to be very
poor and mean." But the son thought to himself, What can
such a beast as this know about the matter?" So he shot his
arrow at the fox; but he missed it, and it set up its tail above
its back and ran into the wood. Then he went his way,- and
in the evening came to the village where the two inns were;
and in one of these were people singing, and dancing, and
feasting; but the other looked very dirty and poor. I should
be very silly," said he, "if I went to that shabby house, and
left this charming place;" so he went into the smart house,
and ate and drank at his ease, and forgot the bird and his
country too.
Time passed on; and as the eldest son did not come back,
and no tidings were heard of him, the second son set out, and
the same thing happened to him. He met the fox, who gave
him the same good advice: but when he came to the two inns,
his eldest brother was standing at the window where the
merrymaking was, and called to him to come in; and he could
not withstand the temptation, but went in, and forgot the
golden bird and his country in the same manner.
Time passed on again, and the youngest son too wished
to set out into the wide world to seek for the golden bird; but
his father would not listen to it for a long while, for he was
very fond of his son, and was afraid that some ill luck might
happen to him also, and prevent his coming back. However,
at last it was agreed he should go, for he would not rest at
home; and as he came to the wood, he met the fox, and heard
the same good counsel. But he was thankful to the fox, and
did not attempt his life as his brothers had done; so the fox
said, Sit upon my tail, and you will travel faster." So he sat
down, and the fox began to run, and away they went over
80

SThe gardener's son shot an arrow at it"
81 F

(B 200)

Grimm's Fairy Tales

stock and stone so quick that their hair whistled in the
wind.
When they came to the village, the son followed the fox's
counsel, and without looking about him went to the shabby
inn and rested there all night at his ease. In the morning
came the fox again and met him as he was beginning his
journey, and said, "Go straight forward, till you come to a
castle, before which lie a whole troop of soldiers fast asleep
and snoring; take no notice of them, but go into the castle
and pass on and on till you come to a room, where the golden
bird sits in a wooden cage; close by it stands a beautiful
golden cage; but do not try to take the bird out of the shabby
cage and put it into the handsome one, otherwise you will re-
pent it."
Then the fox stretched out his tail again, and the young
man sat himself down, and away they went over stock and
stone till their hair whistled in the wind.
Before the castle gate all was as the fox had said: so the
son went in and found the chamber where the golden bird
hung in a wooden cage; and below stood the golden cage, and
the three golden apples that had been lost were lying close by
it. Then thought he to himself, It will be a very droll thing
to bring away such a fine bird in this shabby cage;" so he
opened the door and took hold of it and put it into the golden
cage. But the bird set up such a loud scream that all the
soldiers awoke, and they took him prisoner and carried him
before the king. The next morning the court sat to judge
him; and when all was heard, it sentenced him to die, unless
he should bring the king the golden horse which could run as
swiftly as the wind; and if he did this, he was to have the
golden bird given him for his own.
So he set out once more on his journey, sighing, and in
great despair, when on a sudden his good friend the fox met
him, and said, "You see now what has happened on, account
of your not listening to my counsel. I will still, however, tell
82

The Golden Bird

you how to find the golden horse, if you will do as I bid you.
You must go straight on till you come to the castle where the
horse stands in his stall: by his side will lie the groom fast
asleep and snoring: take away the horse quietly, but be sure
to put the old leather saddle upon him, and not the golden
one that is close by it." Then the son sat down on the fox's
tail, and away they went over stock and stone till their hair
whistled in the wind.
All went right, and the groom lay snoring with his hand
upon the golden saddle. But when the son looked at the
horse, he thought it a great pity to put fhe leather saddle
upon it. I will give him the good one," said he; "I am sure
he deserves it." As he took up the golden saddle the groom
awoke and cried out so loud, that all the guards ran in and
took him prisoner, and in the morning he was again brought
before the court to be judged, and was sentenced to die. But
it was agreed, that, if he could bring thither the beautiful
princess, he should live, and have the bird and horse given
him for his own.
Then he went his way again very sorrowful; but the old
fox came and said, "Why did you not listen to me? If you
had, you would have carried away both the bird and the horse;
yet will I once more give you counsel. Go straight on, and in
the evening you will arrive at a castle. At tWelve o'clock at
night the princess goes to the bathing-house; go up to her
and give her a kiss, and she will let you lead her away; but
take care you do not suffer her to go and take leave of her
father and mother." Then the fox stretched out his tail, and
so away they went over stock and stone till their hair whistled
again.
As they came to the castle, all was as the fox had said,
and at twelve o'clock the young man met the princess going
to the bath, and gave her the kiss, and she agreed to run away
with him, but begged with many tears that he would let her
take leave of her father. At first he refused, but she wept
83

Grimm's Fairy Tales

still more and more, and fell at his feet, till at last he con-
sented; but the moment she came to her father's house, the
guards awoke and he was taken prisoner again.
Then he was brought before the king, and the king said,
"You shall never have my daughter unless in eight days you
dig away the hill that stops the view from my window." Now
this hill was so big that the whole world could not take it
away; and when he had worked for seven days, and had done
very little, the fox came and said, Lie down and go to sleep;
I will work for you." And in the morning he awoke and the
hill was gone; so he went merrily to the king, and told him
that now that it was removed he must give him the princess.
Then the king was obliged to keep his word, and away
went the young man and the princess; and the fox came and
said to him, "We will have all three, the princess, the horse,
and the bird." "Ah!" said the young man, "that would be a
great thing, but how can you contrive it?"
If you will only listen," said the fox, "it can soon be done.
When you come to the king, and he asks for the beautiful
princess, you must say, 'Here she is.' Then he will be very
joyful; and you will mount the golden horse that they are to
give you, and put out your hand to take leave of them; but
shake hands with the princess last. Then lift her quickly on
to the horse behind you; clap your spurs to his side, and
gallop away as fast as you can."
All went right: then the fox said, When you come to the
castle where the bird is, I will stay with the princess at the
door, and you will ride in and speak to the king; and when he
sees that it is the right horse, he will bring out the bird; but
you must sit still, and say that you want to look at it, to see
whether it is the true golden bird; and when you get it into
your hand, ride away."
This, too, happened as the fox said; they carried off the
bird, the princess mounted again, and they rode on to a great
wood. Then the fox came, and said, "Pray kill me, and cut
84

The Golden Bird

off my head and my feet." But the young man refused to do
it: so the fox said, I will at any rate give you good counsel:
beware of two things; ransom no one from the gallows, and
sit down by the side of no river." Then away he went.
"Well," thought the young man, "it is no hard matter to
keep that advice."
He rode on with the princess, till at last he came to the
village where he had left his two brothers. And there he
heard a great noise and uproar; and when he asked what was
the matter, the people said, "Two men are going to be hanged."
As he came nearer, he saw that the two men were his brothers,
who had turned robbers; so he said, Cannot they in any way
be saved?" But the people said "No," unless he would be-
stow all his money upon the rascals and buy their liberty.
Then he did not stay to think about the matter, but paid what
was asked, and his brothers were given up, and went on with
him towards their home.
And as they came to the wood where the fox first met
them, it was so cool and pleasant that the two brothers said,
"Let us sit down by the side of the river, and rest awhile, to
eat and drink." "Very well," said he, and forgot the fox's
counsel, and sat down on the side of the river; and while he
suspected nothing, they came behind, and threw him down
the bank, and took the princess, the horse, and the bird, and
went home to the king their master, and said, All this have
we won by our exertions.'' Then there was great rejoicing
made; but the horse would not eat, the bird would not sing,
and the princess wept.
The youngest son fell to the bottom of the river's bed:
luckily it was nearly dry, but his bones were almost broken,
and the bank was so steep that he could find no way to get
out. Then the old fox came once more, and scolded him for
not following his advice; otherwise no evil would have befallen
him: Yet," said he, I cannot leave you here, so lay hold of
my tail and hold fast." Then he pulled him out of the river,

Grimm's Fairy Tales

and said to him, as he got upon the bank, "Your brothers
have set watch to kill you, if they find you in the kingdom."
So he dressed himself as a poor man, and came secretly to the
king's court, and was scarcely within the doors when the horse
began to eat, and the bird to sing, and the princess left off
weeping. He went straight to the king, and told him all his
brothers' roguery; and they were seized and punished, and he
had the princess given to him again; and after the king's
death he was heir to his kingdom.
A long while after, he went to walk one day in the wood,
and the old fox met him, and besought him with tears in his
eyes to kill him, and cut off his head and feet. And at last
he did so, and in a moment the fox was changed into a man,
and turned out to be the brother of the princess, who had
been lost a great many many years.

The Dog and the Sparrow

A SHEPHERD'S dog had a master who took no care of him,
but often let him suffer the greatest hunger. At last he could
bear it no longer; so he took to his heels, and off he ran in
a very sad and sorrowful mood. On the road he met a
sparrow, that said to him, Why are you so sad, my friend?"
" Because," said the dog, I am very very hungry, and have
nothing to eat." If that be all," answered the sparrow,
" come with me into the next town, and I will soon find you
plenty of food."
So on they went together into the town: and as they
passed by a butcher's shop, the sparrow said to the dog,
" Stand there a little while, till I peck you down a piece of
meat." So the sparrow perched upon the shelf: and having
first looked carefully about her to see if anyone was watching
her, she pecked and scratched at a steak that lay upon the
edge of the shelf, till at last down it fell. Then the dog
snapped it up, and scrambled away with it into a corner,
where he soon ate it all up.
"Well," said the sparrow, "you shall have some more if
you will; so come with me to the next shop, and I will peck
you down another steak." When the dog had eaten this too,
the sparrow said to him, Well, my good friend, have you had
enough now?" I have had plenty of meat," answered he,
"but I should like to have a piece of bread to eat after it."
" Come with me then," said the sparrow, and you shall soon
have that too." So she took him to a baker's shop, and
pecked at two rolls that lay in the window, till they fell
down: and as the dog still wished for more, she took him
to another shop and pecked down some more for him.

Grimm's Fairy Tales

When that was eaten, the sparrow asked him whether he
had had enough now. "Yes," said he; "and now let us take
a walk a little way out of the town." So they both went out
upon the high-road: but as the weather was warm, they had
not gone far before the dog said, I am very much tired, I
should like to take a nap." "Very well," answered the
sparrow, "do so, and in the meantime I will perch upon
that bush."
So the dog stretched himself out on the road, and fell fast
asleep. Whilst he slept, there came by a carter with a cart
drawn by three horses, and loaded with two casks of wine.
The sparrow, seeing that the carter did not turn out of the
way, but would go on in the track in which the dog lay, so
as to drive over him, called out, "Stop! stop! Mr. Carter, or
it shall be the worse for you." But the carter, grumbling to
himself, "You make it the worse for me, indeed! what can
you do?" cracked his whip, and drove his cart over the poor
dog, so that the wheels crushed him to death.
"There," cried the sparrow, "you cruel villain, you have
killed my friend the dog. Now mind what I say. This deed
of yours shall cost you all you are worth." "Do your worst,
and welcome," said the brute, "what harm can you do me?"
and passed on.
But the sparrow crept under the tilt of the cart, and
pecked at the bung of one of the casks till she loosened it;
and then all the wine ran out, without the carter seeing it.
At last he looked round, and saw that the cart was dripping,
and the cask quite empty. "What an unlucky wretch I am!"
cried he. "Not wretch enough yet!" said the sparrow, as she
alighted upon the head of one of the horses, and pecked at
him till he reared up and kicked.
When the carter saw this, he drew out his hatchet and
aimed a blow at the sparrow, meaning to kill her; but she
flew away, and the blow fell upon the poor horse's head with
such force, that he fell down dead. I Unlucky wretch that
88

Full Text

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title Grimm's fairy tales
author Grimm's fairy tales
publicationStmt
date 2014
distributor University of Florida Digital Collections
email ufdc@uflib.ufl.edu
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sourceDesc
biblFull
Grimm's fairy tales
Grimm, Jacob, 1785-1863
Stratton, Helen
Grimm, Wilhelm, 1786-1859
Blackie & Son
extent 335 p., [16] leaves of plates : ill. (some col.) ; 21 cm.
publisher Blackie and Son
pubPlace London ;
Glasgow ;
Dublin ;
[1909?]
type ALEPH 028979728
OCLC 86138244
notesStmt
note anchored true Date of publication from inscription.
with many illustrations in colour and in black-and-white by Helen Stratton.
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item Children -- Conduct of life -- Juvenile fiction
Conduct of life -- Juvenile fiction
Children's stories
Children's stories -- 1909
Fairy tales -- 1909
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div Front Cover
pb n 1 facs 00001.jpg
IM
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Half Title
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Grimm's
Fairy
Tales
Matter
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6~X~
~/1
~R7
4 ^7f
5 00005.jpg
Frontispiece
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t. '.
.sf .~t .
Hansel is turned into a Fawn
IWVI__
V14k
i
!?+
::-:P .r:
Page
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Grimm's Fairy Tales
WITH MANY
ILLUSTRATIONS IN COLOUR AND BLACK-AND-WHITE
BY HELEN STRATTON
BLACKIE AND SON LIMITED
LONDON GLASGOW DUBLIN BOMBAY
8 00008.jpg
Table of Contents
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Contents
HANSEL AND GRETTEL .
THE WAGGISH MUSICIAN .
FREDERICK AND CATHERINE .
THE THREE CHILDREN OF FORTUNE
SNOW-DROP .
THE QUEEN BEE .
THE JEW IN THE BUSH .
RUMPEL-STILTS-KIN .
THE FROG-PRINCE .
THE TOM-TIT AND THE BEAR .
THE FISHERMAN AND HIS WIFE .
THE GRATEFUL BEASTS .
ROLAND AND MAYBIRD .
THE GOLDEN BIRD .
THE DOG AND THE SPARROW .
THE TURNIP .
CHERRY, OR THE FROG-BRIDE .
THE LADY AND THE LION .
THE TWELVE DANCING PRINCESSES
THE KING OF THE GOLDEN MOUNTAIN
OLD SULTAN .
KING GRISLY-BEARD .
THE GIANT WITH THE THREE GOLDEN HAIRS
THE ADVENTURES OF CHANTICLEER AND PARTLET
FAITHFUL JOHN .
THE BLUE LIGHT .
THE CROWS AND THE SOLDIER .
THE GOLDEN GOOSE .
THE JUNIPER-TREE .
HANS AND HIS WIFE GRETTEL .
ROSEBUD .
Page
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Grimm's Fairy Tales
THE YOUNG GIANT AND THE TAILOR
PEE-WIT .
JORINDA AND JORINDEL .
ASHPUTTEL .
PETER THE GOATHERD .
THE GOOSE-GIRL
THE FOUR CLEVER BROTHERS
THE ELFIN-GROVE .
THE ROBBER-BRIDEGROOM .
MOTHER HOLLE .
THE FIVE SERVANTS
THE SEVEN RAVENS
HANS IN LUCK
MRS. FOX .
THE SALAD
THE TRAVELLING MUSICIANS .
THE WATER OF LIFE
THE NOSE
CAT-SKIN .
THE MOUSE, THE BIRD, AND THE SAUSAGE.
THE ELVES AND THE SHOEMAKER .
TOM THUMB
THE FOX AND THE HORSE .
List Illustrations
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Illustrations
COLOURED
Page
Hansel is turned into a Fawn Frontispiece
The King finds Grettel .12
The Bee helps the Dwarf to discover the youngest Princess 38
Rumpel-stilts-kin dashes his Foot into the Floor 46
The Woodsman scolds Roland. 69
Roland and Maybird in the Depths of the Wood .70
They begin to eat the Cake and the Sugar 72
Cherry and the Three Princes .97
The Frog and the Prince too
The Little Dogs and the Walnut Shell 102
" He trod on the gown of the youngest princess 14
The Soldier upsets the Stall. .128
Chanticleer gives the Innkeeper an Egg. 138
Chanticleer runs to the Bride .142
The Sisters follow Dummling and his Goose. 166
The wicked Fairy takes her revenge 88
The King's Son discovers Rosebud 19o
Jorinda and Jorindel sit down near the Old Castle 10
Jorindel touches the Cage with the White Flower 212
The Maid refuses to obey the Princess .228
"Blow, Breezes, blow, let Curdken's hat go I" 232
The False Bride is dragged through the Streets in a Cask 236
The Little Girl goes to find her Spindle 255
Hans makes a bargain .273
Hans exchanges the Pig for the Goose 276
Hans watches the Stone sinking .278
The Ass and the Dog take pity on the Cat 291
The Musicians frighten the Robber 296
The Dwarfs dress in the Clothes 323
BLACK AND WHITE
"Brother, brother, do not drink .. 9
The Hare runs round the Tree. .15
Catherine takes pity on the Trees .21
. 21
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Grimm's Fairy Tales
The Page asks Puss to quit the Castle
" One of the Dwarfs sat by it and watched" .
"The Jew began to dance and spring about"
"A frog put its head out of the water" .
"We are not base-born, you stupid bear"
The Fisherman asks a Boon of the Fish .
They find the wonderful Stone .
" She was forced to dance a merry jig"
" The gardener's son shot an arrow at it"
The Sparrow tries to save the Dog .
"The student listened and wondered much"
"She liked cherries better than any other food"
The Lady asks the Winds to help her
He discovers an enchanted Princess
"The princess took him willingly for her husband"
" He saw three ravens flying towards him"
A Black Dwarf appears in the Smoke
The Soldier marries the Princess
He reaches down to take an apple .
" As she rose the bells jingled"
"See what a fine neck-cloth I have I"
"A fine coach came by ".
"Shake, shake, hazel-tree !"
The Goat in the Cavern .
The Princess and the Dragon .
" She gazed on the fairy scene" .
" They gave her some wine to drink "
" She held out her apron"
" She soon came to the apple-tree "
The Prince and his Servants on watch
The little Girl and the Stars
Hans starts for home
The Fox pretends he is dead
" He knocked at the window". .
"They began their music" .
"On his way home he passed the dwarf"
"Her nose grew and grew" .
The dogs discover Cat-Skin
"At last the thieves found him out"
" The beast began to roar and bellow" .
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Section
head Hansel and Grettel
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GRIMM'S FAIRY TALES
Hansel and Grettel
HANSEL one day took his sister Grettel by the hand, and
said, "Since our poor mother died we have had no happy
days; for our new mother beats us all day long, and when we
go near her, she pushes us away. We have nothing but hard
crusts to eat; and the little dog that lies by the fire is better
off than we, for he sometimes has a nice piece of meat thrown
to him. Oh, if our poor mother knew how we are used!
Come, we will go and travel over the wide world." They
went the whole day walking over the fields, till in the even-
ing they came to a great wood; and then they were so tired
and hungry that they sat down in a hollow tree and went
to sleep.
In the morning when they awoke, the sun had risen high
above the trees, and shone warm upon the hollow tree. Then
Hansel said, "Sister, I am very thirsty; if I could find a
brook, I would go and drink, and fetch you some water too.
Listen, I think I hear the sound of one." Then Hansel rose
up and took Grettel by the hand and went in search of the
brook.
But their cruel stepmother was a fairy, and had followed
them into the wood to work them mischief: and when they
had found a brook that ran sparkling over the pebbles,
Hansel wanted to drink; but Grettel thought she heard the
brook, as it babbled along, say, "Whoever drinks here will
14 00014.jpg
Grimm's Fairy Tales
be turned into a tiger". Then she cried, "Ah, brother do
not drink, or you will be turned into a wild beast and tear
me to pieces." Then Hansel yielded, although he was
parched with thirst. "I will wait," said he, "for the next
brook." But when they came to the next, Grettel listened
again, and thought she heard, "Whoever drinks here will
become a wolf". Then she cried, "Brother, brother, do not
drink, or you will become a wolf and eat me." So he did
not drink, but said, "I will wait for the next brook; there
I must drink, say what you will."
As they came to the third brook, Grettel listened, and
heard, "Whoever drinks here will become a fawn". "Ah,
brother!" said she, "do not drink, or you will be turned into
a fawn and run away from me." But Hansel had already
stooped down upon his knees, and the moment he put his
lips to the water he was turned into a fawn.
Grettel wept bitterly over the poor creature, and the tears
also rolled down his eyes as he laid himself beside her. Then
she said, Rest in peace, dear fawn, I will never, never leave
you." So she took off her golden necklace and put it round
his neck, and plucked some rushes and plaited them into
a soft string to fasten to it; and then she led him farther
into the wood.
After they had travelled a long way, they came at last
to a little cottage; and Grettel, seeing that it was quite
empty, thought to herself, "We can live here". Then she
gathered leaves and moss to make a soft bed for the fawn;
and every morning she went out and plucked nuts, roots,
and berries for herself, and sweet shrubs and tender grass
for her companion; and he ate out of her hand, and was
pleased, and played and frisked about her. In the evening,
when Grettel was tired, and had said her prayers, she laid,
her head upon the fawn for her pillow, and slept: and if poor
Hansel could but have his right form again, they thought
they might lead a very happy life.
15 00015.jpg
"Brother, brother, do not drink !"
9
16 00016.jpg
Grimm's Fairy Tales
They lived thus a long while in the wood by themselves,
till it chanced that the king of that country came to hold
a great hunt. And when the fawn heard all around the
echoing of the horns, and the baying of the dogs, and the
merry shouts of the huntsmen, he wished very much to go
and see what was happening. "Ah, sister, sister!" said he,
"let me go out into the wood, I can stay no longer." And
he begged so long, that she at last. agreed to let him go.
"But," said she, "be sure to come to me in the evening; I
shall shut up the door to keep out those wild huntsmen;
and if you tap at it, and say, 'Sister, let me in', I shall know
you; but if you don't speak, I shall keep the door fast."
Then away sprang the fawn, and frisked and bounded along
in the open air. The king and his huntsmen saw the beauti-
ful creature, and followed, but could not overtake him; for
when they thought they were sure of their prize, he sprang
over the bushes and was out of sight in a moment.
As it grew dark he came running home to the hut, and
tapped, and said, "Sister, sister, let me in." Then she opened
the little door, and in he jumped and slept soundly all night
on his soft bed.
Next morning the hunt began again; and when he heard
the huntsmen's horns, he said, "Sister, open the door for
me, I must go again." Then she let him out, and said,
"Come back in the evening, and remember what you are
to say." When the king and the huntsmen saw the fawn
with the golden collar again, they gave him chase; but he
was too quick for them. The chase lasted the whole day;
but at last the huntsmen nearly surrounded him, and one
of them wounded him in the foot, so that he became sadly
lame and could hardly crawl home. The man who had
wounded him followed close behind, and hid himself, and
heard the little fawn say, "Sister, sister, 'et me in"; upon
which the door opened and soon shut again. The huntsman
marked all well, and went to the king and told him what
17 00017.jpg
Hansel and Grettel
he had seen and heard; then the king said, "Ta-morrow
we will have another chase."
Grettel was very much frightened when she saw that her
dear little fawn was wounded; but she washed the blood
away and put some healing herbs on him, and said, "Now
go to bed, dear fawn, and you will soon be well again." The
wound was so small, that in the morning there was nothing
to be seen of it; and when the horn blew, the little creature
said, "I can't stay here, I must go and look on; I will take
care that none of them shall catch me." But Grettel said,
"I am sure they will kill you this time, I will not let you
go." "I shall die of vexation," answered he, "if you keep
me here: when I hear the horns, I feel as if I could fly."
Then Grettel had to let him go; so she opened the door
with a heavy heart, and he bounded out gaily into the wood.
When the king saw him he said to his huntsmen, "Now
chase him all day long till you catch him; but let none of
you do him any harm." The sun set, however, without their
being able to overtake him, and the king called away the
huntsmen, and said to the one who had watched, "Now
come and show me the little hut." So they went to the
door and tapped, and said, "Sister, sister, let me in." Then
the door opened and the king went in, and there stood a
maiden more lovely than any he had ever seen. Grettel
I
18 00018.jpg
Grimm's Fairy Tales
was frightened to see that it was not her fawn, but a king
with a golden crown that was come into her hut: however,
he spoke kindly to her, and took her hand, and said, "Will
you come with me to my castle and be my wife?" Yes,"
said the maiden; "but my fawn must go with me, I cannot
part with that." "Well," said the king, "he shall come and
live with you all your life, and want for nothing." Just at
that moment in sprang the fawn; and his sister tied the
string to his neck, and they left the hut in the wood together.
Then the king took Grettel to his palace, and celebrated
the marriage in great state. And she told the king all her
story; and he sent for the fairy and punished her: and the
fawn was changed into Hansel again, and he and his sister
loved each other, and lived happily together all their days.
19 00019.jpg
The King finds Grettel
The Waggish Musician
20 00021.jpg
The Waggish Musician
014E day a waggish musician, who played delightfully on the
fiddle, went rambling in a forest in a merry mood. Then
he said to himself, "Time goes rather heavily, I must find a
companion." So he took up his fiddle, and fiddled away till
the wood resounded with his music.
Presently up came a wolf. "Dear me! there's a wolf
coming to see me," said the musician. But the wolf came up
to him, and said, "How very prettily you play! I wish you
would teach me." "That is easily done," said the musician,
"if you will only do what I bid you." "Yes," replied the wolf,
"I will be a very obedient scholar." So they went on a little
way together, and came at last to an old oak-tree that was
hollow within, and had a large crack in the middle of the
trunk. Look there," said the musician, if you wish to learn
to fiddle, put your fore-feet into that crack." The wolf did as
he was bid. But the musician picked up a large stone and
wedged both his fore-feet fast into the crack, so as to make
him a prisoner. "Now be so good as to wait there till I come
back," said he, and jogged on.
After a while, he said again to himself, "Time goes very
heavily, I must find another companion." So he took his
fiddle, and fiddled away again in the wood. Presently up
came a fox that was wandering close by. "Ah! there is a
fox," said he. The fox said, "You delightful musician, how
prettily you play I I must and will learn to play as you do."
"You may soon learn," said the musician, "if you will do
as I tell you." "That I will," said the fox. So they travelled
on together till they came to a narrow footpath with high
bushes on either side. Then the musician bent a stout hazel
i3
21 00022.jpg
Grimm's Fairy Tales
stem down to the ground from one side of the path, and set
his foot on the top, and held it fast; and bent another from
the other side, and said to the fox, Now, pretty fox, if you
want to fiddle, give me hold of your left paw." So the fox
gave him his paw; and he tied it fast to the top of one of
the hazel stems. "Now give me your right," said he. The
fox did as he was told; and the musician tied that paw to
the other hazel. Then he took off his foot, and away up
wflew the bushes; and the fox went too, and hung sprawling
and swinging in the air. Now be so kind as to stay there
till I come back," said the musician, and jogged on.
But he soon said to himself, Time begins to hang heavy,
I must find a companion." So he took up his fiddle, and
fiddled away divinely. Then a hare came running along.
" Ah! there is a hare," said the musician. And the hare said
to him, "You fine fiddler, how beautifully you play! will you
teach me?" "Yes," said the musician, "I will soon do that,
if you will follow my orders." "Yes," said the hare, I will
make a good scholar." Then they went on together very well
'for a long while, till they came to an open space in the wood.
The musician tied a string round the hare's neck, and fastened
the other end to a tree. Now," said he, pretty hare, quick,
jump about, run round the tree twenty times." So the silly
hare did as she was bid: and when she had run twenty
times round the tree, she had twisted the string twenty times
round the trunk, and was fast prisoner; and she might pull
and pull away as long as she pleased, and only pulled the
string faster around her neck. Now wait till I come back,"
said the musician.
But the wolf had pulled and bitten and scratched at the
stone a long while, till at last he had got his feet out and was
at liberty. Then he said in a great passion, I will run after
that rascally musician and tear him in pieces." As the fox
saw him run by, he said, Ah, brother wolf, pray let me down,
the musician has played tricks with me!" So the wolf set to
14
14
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The Hare runs round the Tree
9
23 00024.jpg
Grimm's Fairy Tales
work at the bottom of the hazel stem, and bit it in two; and
away went both together to find the musician. As they came
to the hare, she cried out too for help. So they went and
set her free, and all followed the enemy together.
Meantime the musician had been fiddling away, and
found another companion; for a poor wood-cutter had been
pleased with the music, and could hot help following him with
his axe under his arm. The musician was pleased to get
a man for a companion, and behaved very civilly to him, and
played him no tricks, but stopped and played his prettiest
tunes till his heart overflowed for joy. While the wood-cutter
was standing listening, he saw the wolf, the fox, and the hare
coming, and knew by their faces that they were in a great
rage, and coming to do some mischief. So he stood before
the musician with his great axe, as much as to say, "No one
shall hurt him as long as I have this axe". And when the
beasts saw this, they were so frightened that they ran back
into the wood. Then the musician played the wood-cutter
one of his best tunes for his pains, and went on with his
journey.
i 4l 'l It
(B 200)
Frederick and Catherine
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Frederick and Catherine
THERE was once a man called Frederick: he had a wife
whose name was Catherine, and they had not long been
married. One day Frederick said, "Kate! I am going to
work in the fields; when I come back I shall be hungry,
so let me have something nice cooked, and a good draught
of ale." "Very well," said she, it shall all be ready." When
dinner-time drew nigh, Catherine took a nice steak, which
was all the meat she had, and put it on the fire to fry. The
steak soon began to look brown, and to crackle in the pan;
and Catherine stood by with a fork and turned it: then she
said to herself, "The steak is almost ready, I may as well
go to the cellar for the ale." So she left the pan on the fire,
and took a large jug and went into the cellar and tapped
the ale-cask. The beer ran into the jug, and Catherine stood
looking on. At last it popped into her head, "The dog is
not shut up-he may be running away with the steak; that's
well thought of." So up she ran from the cellar; and sure
enough the rascally cur had got the steak in his mouth, and
was making off with it.
Away ran Catherine, and away ran the dog across the
field; but he ran faster than she, and stuck close to the steak.
"It's all gone, and 'what can't be cured must be endured',"
said Catherine. So she turned round; and as she had run
a good way and was tired, she walked home leisurely to cool
herself.
Now all this time the ale was running too, for Catherine
had not turned the cock; and when the jug was full the liquor
ran upon the floor till the cask was empty. When she got
to the cellar stairs she saw what had happened. My stars!"
( 200) 17 B
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Grimm's Fairy Tales
said she, "what shall I do to keep Frederick from seeing
all this slopping about?" So she thought a while; and at last
remembered that there was a sack of fine meal bought at
the last fair, and that if she sprinkled this over the floor it
would suck up the ale nicely. "What a lucky thing," said
she, "that we kept that meal! We have now a good use for
it." So away she went for it: but she managed to set it
down just upon the great jug full of beer, and upset it; and
thus all the ale that had been saved was set swimming on the
floor also. "Ah! well," said she, "when one goes, another
may as well follow." Then she strewed the meal all about
the cellar, and was quite pleased with her cleverness, and
said, "How very neat and clean it looks!"
At noon Frederick came home. "Now, wife," cried he,
"what have you for dinner?" "0 Frederick!" answered she,
"I was cooking you a steak; but while I went to draw the
ale, the dog ran away with it; and while I ran after him, the
ale all ran out; and when I went to dry up the ale with the
sack of meal that we got at the fair, I upset the jug: but the
cellar is now quite dry, and looks so clean!" "Kate, Kate,"
said he, "how could you do all this? Why did you leave the
steak to fry, and the ale to run, and then spoil all the meal?"
"Why, Frederick," said she, "I did not know I was doing
wrong; you should have told me before."
The husband thought to himself, "If my wife manages
matters thus, I must look sharp myself." Now he had a
good deal of gold in the house: so he said to Catherine,
"What pretty yellow buttons these are! I will put them
into a box and bury them in the garden; but take care
that you never go near or meddle with them." "No,
Frederick," said she, that I never will." As soon as he was
gone, there came by some pedlars with earthenware plates
and dishes, and they asked her whether she would buy. "Oh
dear me, I should like to buy very much, but I have no
money: if you had any use for yellow buttons, I might deal
x8
26 00027.jpg
Frederick and Catherine
with you." "Yellow buttons!" said they: "let us have a look
at them." Go into the garden and dig where I tell you, and
you will find the yellow buttons: I dare not go myself." So
the rogues went: and when they found what these yellow
buttons were, they took them all away, and left her plenty
of plates and dishes. Then she set them all about the house
for a show: and when Frederick came back, he cried out,
"Kate, what have you been doing?" "See," said she, "I
have bought all these with your yellow buttons: but I did
not touch them myself; the pedlars went themselves and
dug them up." "Wife, wife," said Frederick, "what a pretty
piece of work you have made! those yellow buttons were
all my money: how came you to do such a thing?" "Why,"
answered she, I did not know there was any harm in it; you
should have told me."
Catherine stood musing for a while, and at last said to
her husband, "Hark ye, Frederick, we will soon get the
gold back: let us run after the thieves!" "Well, we will
try," answered he; "but take some butter and cheese with
you, that we may have something to eat by the way." "Very
well," said she; and they set out. Now as Frederick walked
the faster, he left his wife some way behind. It does not
matter," thought she: "when we turn back, I shall be so
much nearer home than he."
Presently she came to the top of a hill, down the side
of which there was a road so narrow that the cart-wheels
always chafed the trees on each side as they passed. "Ah,
see now," said she, "how they have bruised and wounded
those poor trees; they will never get well." So she took
pity on them, and made use of the butter to grease them
all, so that the wheels might not hurt them so much. While
she was doing this kind office, one of her cheeses fell out
of the basket, and rolled down the hill. Catherine looked,
but could not see where it was gone; so she said, "Well, I
suppose the other will go the same way and find you; he
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Grimm's Fairy Tales
has younger legs than I have." Then she rolled the other
cheese after it: and away it went, nobody knows where,
down the hill. But she said she supposed they knew the
road, and would follow her, and she could not stay there
all day waiting for them.
At last she overtook Frederick, who desired her to give
him something to eat. Then she gave him the dry bread.
" Where are the butter and cheese?" said he. Oh!" answered
she, "I used the butter to grease those poor trees that the
wheels chafed so: and one of the cheeses ran away, so I sent
the other after it to find it, and I suppose they are both on
the road together somewhere." "What a goose you are to
do such silly things!" said the husband. "How can you
say so?" said she; "I am sure you never told me not."
They ate the dry bread together; and Frederick said,
"Kate, I hope you locked the door safe when you came
away." "No," answered she; "you did not tell me." "Then
go home, and do it now before we go any farther," said
Frederick, "and bring with you something to eat."
Catherine did as he told her, and thought to herself by
the way, "Frederick wants something to eat; but I don't
think he is very fond of butter and cheese; I'll bring him
a bag of fine nuts, and the vinegar, for I have often seen
him take some."
When she reached home, she bolted the back-door, but
the front-door she took off the hinges, and said, "Frederick
told me to lock the door, but surely it can nowhere be so
safe as if I take it with me." So she took her time by the
way; and when she overtook her husband she cried out,
"There, Frederick, there is the door itself, now you may
watch it as carefully as you please." "Alas! alas!" said
he, "what a clever wife I have! I sent you to make the
house fasf, and you take the door away, so that everybody
may go in and out as they please. However, as you have
brought the door, you shall carry it about with you for your
20
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Catherine takes pity on the Trees
a1
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Grimm's Fairy Tales
pains." "Very well," answered she, "I'll carry the door; but
I'll not carry the nuts and vinegar-bottle also,-that would
be too much of a load; so, if you please, I'll fasten them
to the door."
Frederick of course made no objection to that plan, and
they set off into the wood to look for the thieves; but they
could not find them: and when it grew dark, they climbed
up into a tree to spend the night there. Scarcely were
they up, when who should come along but the very rogues
they were looking for. They were in truth great rascals,
and belonged to that class of people who find things before
they are lost. They were tired; so they sat down and made
a fire under the very tree where Frederick and Catherine
were. Frederick slipped down on the other side, and picked
up some stones. Then he climbed up again, and tried to
hit the thieves on the head with them: but they only said,
"It must be near morning, for the wind shakes the fir-apples
down."
Catherine, who had the door on her shoulder, began to
be very tired; but she thought it was the nuts upon it that
were so heavy: so she said softly, "Frederick, I must let
the nuts go." "No," answered he, "not now, they will dis-
cover us." "I can't help that, they must go." "Well then,
make haste and throw them down, if you will." Then away
rattled the nuts down among the boughs; and one of the
thieves cried, "Bless me, it is hailing!"
A little while after, Catherine thought the door was still
very heavy; so she whispered to Frederick, "I must throw
the vinegar down." "Pray don't," answered he, "it will dis
cover us." "I can't help that," said she, "go it must." So
she poured all the vinegar down; and the thieves said, What
a heavy dew there is!"
At last it popped into Catherine's head that it was the
door itself that was so heavy all the time: so she whispered,
"Frederick, I must throw the door down soon," But he
30 00031.jpg
Frederick and Catherine
begged and prayed her not to do so, for he was sure it would
betray them. "Here goes, however," said she: and down
went the door with such a clatter upon the thieves, that they
cried out "Murder!" and not knowing what was coming,
ran away as fast as they could, and left all the gold. So
Catherine was right at last! And when she and Frederick
came down they found all their money safe and sound.
The Three Children of Fortune
31 00032.jpg
The Three Children of Fortune
ONCE upon a time a father sent for his three sons, and gave
to the eldest a cock, to the second a scythe, and to the third
a cat. "I am now old," said he, "my end is approaching,
and I would fain provide for you before I die. Money I
have none, and what I now give you seems of but little
worth; yet it rests with yourselves alone to turn my gifts
to good account. Only seek out for a land where what you
have is as yet unknown, and your fortune is made."
After the death of the father, the eldest set out with his
cock: but wherever he went, in every town he saw from afar
off a cock sitting upon the church steeple, and turning round
with the wind. In the villages he always heard plenty of
them crowing, and his bird was therefore nothing new; so
there did not seem much chance of his making his fortune.
At length it happened that he came to an island where the
people had never heard of a cock, and knew not even how
to reckon the time. They knew, indeed, if it were morning
or evening; but at night, if they lay awake, they had no
means of knowing how time went. "Behold," said he to
them, "what a noble animal this is! how like a knight he is!
he carries a bright red crest upon his head, and spurs upon
his heels; he crows three times every night, at stated hours,
and at the third time the sun is about to rise. But this is
not all; sometimes he screams in broad daylight, and then
you must take warning, for the weather is surely about to
change." This pleased the natives mightily; they kept
awake one whole night, and heard to their great joy, how
gloriously the cock called the hours, at two, four, and six
o'clock. Then they asked him whether the bird was to be
32 00033.jpg
h.9 j~
U~
The Page asks Puss to quit the Castle
25
33 00034.jpg
Grimm's Fairy Tales
sold, and how much he would sell it for. "About as much
gold as an ass can carry," said he. "A very fair price for
such an animal," cried they with one voice; and agreed to
give him what he asked.
When he returned home with his wealth, his brothers
wondered greatly;' and the second said, "I will now set
forth likewise, and see if I can turn my scythe to as good
an account." There did not seem, however, much likelihood
of this; for go where he would, he was met by peasants who
had as good a scythe on their shoulder as he had. But at
last, as good luck would have it, he came to an island where
the people had never heard of a scythe. There, as soon as
the corn was ripe, they went into the fields and pulled it up;
but this was very hard work, and a great deal of it was lost.
The man then set to work with his scythe; and mowed down
their whole crop so quickly, that the people stood staring
open-mouthed with wonder. They were willing to give him
what he asked for such a marvellous thing; but he only took
a horse laden with as much gold as it could carry.
Now the third brother had a great longing to go and
see what he could make of his cat. So he set out: and at
first it happened to him as it had to the others, so long as
he kept upon the mainland, he met with no success; there
were plenty of cats everywhere, indeed too many, so that
the young ones were for the most part, as soon as they came
into the world, drowned in the water. At last he passed
over to an island, where, as it chanced most luckily for him,
nobody had ever seen a cat; and they were overrun with
mice to such a degree, that the little wretches danced upon
the tables and chairs, whether the master of the house were
at home or not. The people complained loudly of this
grievance; the king himself knew not how to rid himself of
them in his palace: in every corner mice were squeaking,
and they gnawed everything that their teeth could lay hold
pf. Here was a fine field for Puss-she soon began her
34 00035.jpg
The Three Children of Fortune
chase, and had cleared two rooms in the twinkling of an
eye; when the people besought their king to buy the wonder-
ful animal, for the good of the public, at any price. The
king willingly gave what was asked-a mule laden with gold
and jewels; and thus the third brother returned home with
a richer prize than either of the others.
Meantime the cat feasted away upon the mice in the
royal palace, and devoured so many that they were no longer
in any great numbers. At length, quite spent and tired
with her work, she became extremely thirsty; so she stood
still, drew up her head, and cried, "Miau, Miau!" The
king gathered together all his subjects when they heard
this strange cry, and many ran shrieking in a great fright
out of the palace. But the king held a council below as to
what was best to be done; and it was at length fixed to
send a herald to the cat, to warn her that if she did not leave
the castle forthwith, force would be used to remove her.
" For," said the counsellors, we would far more willingly put
up with the mice (since we are used to that evil), than get rid
of them at the risk of our lives." A page accordingly went,
and asked the cat, "whether she were willing to quit the
castle?" But Puss, whose thirst became every moment more
and more pressing, answered nothing but "Miau, Miau!"
which the page interpreted to mean "Nol Nol" and there-
fore carried this answer to the king. Well," said the coun-
sellors, "then we must try what force will do." So the guns
were planted, and the palace was fired upon from all sides.
When the fire reached the room where the cat was, she
sprang out of the window and ran away; but the besiegers
did not see her, and went on firing until the whole palace
was burnt to the ground.
Snow-drop
35 00036.jpg
Snow-Drop
IT was in the middle of winter when the broad flakes of snow
were falling around, that a certain queen sat working at a
window the frame of which was made of fine black ebony;
and as she was looking out upon the snow, she pricked her
finger, and three drops of blood fell upon it. Then she gazed
thoughtfully upon the red drops which sprinkled the white
snow, and said, "Would that my little daughter may be as
white as that snow, as red as the blood, and as black as the
ebony window-frame!" And so the little girl grew up: her
skin was as white as snow, her cheeks as rosy as the blood,
and her hair as black as ebony; and she was called Snow-
drop.
But this queen died; and the king soon married another
wife, who was very beautiful, but so proud that she could not
bear to think that anyone could surpass her. She had a
magic looking-glass, to which she used to go and gaze upon
herself in it, and say:
"Tell me, glass, tell me true!
Of all the ladies in the land,
Who is the fairest? tell me who?"
And the glass answered:
"Thou, queen, are fairest in the land."
But Snow-drop grew more and more beautiful; and when
she was seven years old, she was as bright as the day, and
fairer than the queen herself. Then the glass one day answered
the queen when she went to consult it as usual:
"Thou, queen, may'st fair and beauteous be,
But Snow-drop is lovelier far than thee I"
28
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Snow-Drop
When she heard this she turned pale with rage and envy;
and called to one of her servants and said, Take Snow-drop
away into the wide wood, that I may never see her more."
Then the servant led her away; but his heart melted when
she begged him to spare her life, and he said, "I will not hurt
thee, thou pretty child." So he left her by herself; and
though he thought it most likely that the wild beasts would
tear her in pieces, he felt as if a great weight were taken off
his heart when he had made up his mind not to kill her, but
leave her to her fate.
Then poor Snow-drop wandered along through the wood
in great fear; and the wild beasts roared about her, but none
did her any harm. In the evening she came to a little cottage,
and went in there to rest herself, for her little feet would carry
her no farther. Everything was spruce and neat in the cottage:
on the table was spread a white cloth, and there were seven
little plates with seven little loaves, and seven little glasses
with wine in them; and knives and forks laid in order; and
by the wall stood seven little beds. Then, as she was very
hungry, she picked a little piece off each loaf, and drank a
very little wine out of each glass; and after that she thought
she would lie down and rest. So she tried all the little beds;
and one was too long, and another was too short, till at last
the seventh suited her; and there she laid herself down and
went to sleep. Presently in came the masters of the cottage,
who were seven little dwarfs that lived among the mountains,
and dug and searched about for gold. They lighted up their
seven lamps, and saw directly that all was not right. The first
said, Who has been sitting on my stool?" The second, "Who
has been eating off my plate?" The third, "Who has been
picking my bread?" The fourth, "Who has been meddling
with my spoon?" The fifth, Who has been handling my
fork?" The sixth, "Who has been cutting with. my knife?"
The seventh, "Who has been drinking my wine?" Then the
first looked round and said, "Who has been lying on my
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Grimm's Fairy Tales
bed?" And the rest came running to him, and everyone
cried out that somebody had been upon his bed. But the
seventh saw Snow-drop, and called all his brethren to come
and see her; and they cried out with wonder and astonish-
ment, and brought their lamps to look at her; and said,
"What a lovely child she is!" And they were delighted to
see her, and took care not to wake her; and the seventh dwarf
slept an hour with each of the other dwarfs in turn, till the
night was gone.
In the morning Snow-drop told them all her story; and
they pitied her, and said if she would keep all things in order,
and cook and wash, and knit and spin for them, she might
stay where she was, and they would take good care of her.
Then they went out all day long to their work, seeking for
gold and silver in the mountains; and Snow-drop remained at
home: and they warned her, and said, "The queen will soon
find out where you are, so take care and let no one in."
But the queen, now that she thought Snow-drop was dead,
believed that she was certainly the handsomest lady in the
land; and she went to the glass and said:
"Tell me, glass, tell me true
Of all the ladies in the land,
Who is fairest? tell me who?"
And the glass answered:
"Thou, queen, art the fairest in all this land;
But over the hills, in the greenwood shade,
Where the seven dwarfs their dwelling have made,
There Snow-drop is hiding her head; and she
Is lovelier far, O queen! than thee."
Then the queen was very much alarmed; for she knew
that the glass always spoke the truth, and was sure that the
servant had betrayed her. And she could not bear to think
that anyone lived who was more beautiful than she was; so
30
38 00039.jpg
Snow-Drop
she disguised herself as an old pedlar, and went her way over
the hills to the place where the dwarfs dwelt. Then she
knocked at the door, and cried, "Fine wares to sell!" Snow-
drop looked out at the window, and said, "Good-day, good
woman; what have you to sell?" "Good wares, fine wares,"
said she; "laces and bobbins of all colours." "I will let
the old lady in; she seems to be a very good sort of body,"
thought Snow-drop; so she ran down, and unbolted the door.
"Bless me!" said the old woman, "how badly your stays are
laced I Let me lace them up with one of my nice new laces."
Snow-drop did not dream of any mischief; so she stood up
before the old woman; but she set to work so nimbly, and
pulled the lace so tight, that Snow-drop lost her breath, and
fell down as if she were dead. "There's an end of all thy
beauty," said the spiteful queen, and went away home.
In the evening the seven dwarfs returned; and I need not
say how grieved they were to see their faithful Snow-drop
stretched upon the ground motionless, as if she were quite
dead. However, they lifted her up, and when they found
what was the matter, they cut the lace; and in a little time
she began to breathe, and soon came to life again. Then
they said, "The old woman was the queen herself; take care
another time, and let no one in when we are away."
When the queen got home, she went straight to her glass,
and spoke to it as usual; but to her great surprise it still
said:
"Thou, queen, art the fairest in all this land;
,But over the hills, in the greenwood shade,
Where the seven dwarfs their dwelling have made,
There Snow-drop is hiding her head; and she
Is lovelier far, O queen I than thee."
Then the blood ran cold in her heart with spite and malice
to see that Snow-drop still lived; and she dressed herself up
again in a disguise, but very different from the one she wore
before, and took with her a poisoned comb. When she
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Grimm's Fairy Tales
reached the dwarfs' cottage, she knocked at the door, and
cried, "Fine wares to sell!" but Snow-drop said, "I dare not
let anyone in." Then the queen said, "Only look at my
beautiful combs;" and gave her the poisoned one. And it
looked so pretty that she took it up and put it into her hair
to try it; but the moment it touched her head the poison was
so powerful that she fell down senseless. "There you may
lie," said the queen, and went her way. But by good luck
the dwarfs returned very early that evening; and when they
saw Snow-drop lying on the ground, they thought what had
happened, and soon found the poisoned comb. And when
they took it away, she recovered, and told them all that had
passed; and they warned her once more not to open the door
to anyone.
Meantime the queen went home to her glass, and trembled
with rage when she received exactly the same answer as
before; and she said, "Snow-drop shall die, if it costs me my
life." So she went secretly into a chamber, and prepared a
poisoned apple: the outside looked very rosy and tempting,
but whoever tasted it was sure to die. Then she dressed
herself up as a peasant's wife, and travelled over the hills to
the dwarfs' cottage, and knocked at the door; but Snow-drop
put her head out of the window, and said, "I dare not let
anyone in, for the dwarfs have told me not." "Do as you
please," said the old woman, "but at any rate take this pretty
apple; I will make you a present of it." "No," said Snow-
drop, "I dare not take it." "You silly girl!" answered the
other, "what are you afraid of? do you think it is poisoned?
Come! do you eat one part, and I will eat the other." Now
the apple was so prepared that one side was good, though
the other side was poisoned. Then Snow-drop was very
much tempted to taste, for the apple looked exceedingly
nice; and when she saw the old woman eat, she could re-
frain no longer. But she had scarcely put the piece into her
mouth, when she fell down dead upon the ground. "This
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0
n 1
""' 4
One of the Dwarfs sat by it and watched"
( 200oo) .1.-
41 00042.jpg
Grimm's Fairy Tales
time nothing will save thee," said the queen; and she went
home to her glass, and at last it said:
"Thou, queen, art the fairest of all the fair."
And then her envious heart was glad, and as happy as such
a heart could be.
When evening came, and the dwarfs returned home, they
found Snow-drop lying on the ground: no breath passed her
lips, and they were afraid that she was quite dead. They
lifted her up, and combed her hair, and washed her face with
wine and water; but all was in vain, for the little girl seemed
quite dead. So they laid her down upon a bier, and all seven
watched and bewailed her three whole days; and then they
proposed to bury her: but her cheeks were still rosy, and her
face looked just as it did while she was alive; so they said,
"We will never bury her in the cold ground." And they
made a coffin of glass so that they might still look at her,
and wrote her name upon it, in golden letters, and that she
was a king's daughter. And the coffin was placed upon the
hill, and one of the dwarfs always sat by it and watched.
And the birds of the air came too, and bemoaned Snow-drop:
first of all came an owl, and then a raven, but at last came
a dove.
And thus Snow-drop lay for a long long time, and still
only looked as though she were asleep; for she was even now
as white as snow, and as red as blood, and as black as ebony.
At last a prince came and called at the dwarfs' house; and
he saw Snow-drop, and read what was written in golden
letters. Then he offered the dwarfs money, and earnestly
prayed them to let him take her away; but they said, "We
will not part with her for all the gold in the world." At last,
however, they had pity on him, and gave him the coffin: but
the moment he lifted it up to carry it home with him, the
piece of apple fell from between her lips, and Snow-drop
awoke, and said, Where am 1?" And the prince answered,
34
42 00043.jpg
Snow-Drop
"Thou art safe with me." Then he told her all that had
happened, and said, "I love you better than all the world:
come with me to my father's palace, and you shall be my
wife." And Snow-drop consented, and went home with the
prince: and everything was prepared with great pomp and
splendour for their wedding.
To the feast was invited, among the rest, Snow-drop's
old enemy, the queen; and as she was dressing herself'in
fine rich clothes, she looked in the glass and said:
"Tell me, glass, tell me true!
Of all the ladies in the land,
Who is fairest? tell me who?"
And the glass answered:
"Thou, lady, art loveliest here, I ween;
But lovelier far is the new-made queen."
When she heard this, she started with rage; but her envy
and curiosity were so great, that she could not help setting
out to see the bride. And when she arrived, and saw that
it was no other than Snow-drop, who, as she thought, had
been dead a long while, she choked with passion, and fell ill
and died; but Snow-drop and the prince lived and reigned
happily over that land many many years.
The Queen Bee
43 00044.jpg
The Queen Bee
ONCE upon a time two princes went out into the world to
seek their fortunes; but they soon fell into a wasteful foolish
way of living, so that they could not return home again. Then
their young brother, who was a little insignificant dwarf, went
out to seek for his brothers. But when he had found them
they only laughed at him, to think that he, who was so young
and simple, should try to travel through the world, when they,
who were so much wiser, had been unable to get on. How-
ever, they all set out on their journey together, and came
at last to an ant-hill. The two elder brothers would have
pulled it down, in order to see how the poor ants in their
fright would run about and carry off their eggs. But the
little dwarf said, "Let the poor things enjoy themselves, I
will not suffer you to trouble them."
So on they went, and came to a lake where many many
ducks were swimming about. The two brothers wanted to
catch two, and roast them. But the dwarf said, "Let the
poor things enjoy themselves, you shall not kill them." Next
they came to a bees'-nest in a hollow tree, and there was
so much honey that it ran down the trunk; and the two
36
44 00045.jpg
The Queen Bee
brothers wanted to light a fire under the tree and kill the
bees, so as to get their honey. But the dwarf held them back,
and said, Let the pretty insects enjoy themselves, I cannot
let you burn them."
At length the three brothers came to a castle, and as they
passed by the stables they saw fine horses standing there, but
all were of marble, and no man was to be seen. Then they
went all through the rooms, till they came to a door on which
were three locks; but in the middle of the door was a wicket,
so that they could look into the next room. There they saw
a little gray old man sitting at a table; and they called to
him once or twice, but he did not hear. When they called
a third time, however, he rose and came out to them.
He said nothing, but took hold of them and led them
to a beautiful table covered with all sorts of good things: and
when they had eaten and drunk, he showed each of them
to a bed-chamber.
The next morning he came to the eldest and took him to
a marble table, where were three tablets, which told how the
castle might be disenchanted. The first tablet said-" In the
wood, under the moss, lie the thousand pearls belonging to
the king's daughter; they must all be found, and if one be
missing by set of sun, he who seeks them will be turned into
marble".
The eldest brother set out, and sought for the pearls the
whole day; but the evening came, and he had not found the
first hundred. So he was turned into stone as the tablet had
foretold. The next day the second brother undertook the
task; but he succeeded no better than the first; for he could
only find the second hundred of the pearls, and therefore he,
too, was turned into stone.
At last came the little dwarf's turn. He looked in the
moss for a time; but it was so hard to find the pearls, and
the job was so tiresome that he sat down upon a stone and
cried. Now as he sat there, the king of the ants (whose life
37
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Grimm's Fairy Tales
he had saved) came to help him, with five thousand ants; and
it was not long before they had found all the pearls and laid
them in a heap.
The second tablet said-" The key of the princess's bed-
chamber must be fished up out of the lake". And as the
dwarf came to the brink of the lake, he saw, swimming about,
the two ducks whose lives he had saved; and they dived
down and soon brought up the key from the bottom.
The third task was the hardest. It was to choose out the
youngest and the best of the king's three daughters. Now,
they were all beautiful, and all exactly alike; but he was told
that the eldest had eaten a piece of sugar, the next some
sweet syrup, and the youngest a spoonful of honey. His
Stask, therefore, was to guess which had eaten the honey.
Then came the queen of the bees, who had been saved by
the little dwarf from the fire, and she tried the lips of all three.
At last she sat upon the lips of the one that had eaten the
honey, and so the dwarf knew which was the youngest. Thus
the spell was broken, and all who had been turned into stone
awoke, and took their proper forms. And the dwarf married
the youngest and the best of the princesses, and was king
after her father's death; but his brothers married the other
two sisters.
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The Jew in the Bush
47 00049.jpg
The Jew in the Bush
A FARMER had a faithful and diligent servant, who had
worked hard for him three years, without having been
paid any wages. At last it came into the man's head that
he would not go on thus without pay any longer; so he
went to his master, and said, I have worked hard for you
a long time, I will trust to you to give me what I deserve
to have for my trouble." The farmer was a sad miser, and
knew that his man was very simple-hearted; so he took out
threepence, and gave him for every year's service a penny.
The poor fellow thought it was a great deal of money to
have, and said to himself, "Why should I work hard, and
live here on bad fare any longer? I can now travel into
the wide world, and make myself merry." With that he
put his money into his purse, and set out roaming over
hill and valley.
As he jogged along over the fields, singing and dancing,
a little dwarf met him, and asked him what made him so
merry. "Why, what should make me down-hearted?" said
he; "I am sound in health and rich in purse, what should
I care for? I have saved up my three years' earnings,
and have it all safe in my pocket." "How much may it
come to?" said the little man. "Full threepence," replied
the countryman. "I wish you would give them to me,"
said the other; I am very poor." Then the man pitied him,
and gave him all he had; and the little dwarf said in return,
"As you have such a kind honest heart, I will grant you three
wishes--one for each penny; so choose whatever you like."
Then the countryman rejoiced at his good luck, and said,
"I like many things better than money: first, I will have
39
48 00050.jpg
Grimm's Fairy Tales
a bow that will bring down everything I shoot at; secondly
a fiddle that will set everyone dancing that hears me play
upon it; and thirdly, I should like that everyone should
grant what I ask." The dwarf said he should have his
three wishes; so he gave him the bow and fiddle and went
his way.
Our honest friend journeyed on his way too; and if
he was merry before, he was now ten times more so. He
had not gone far before he met an old Jew: close by them
stood a tree, and on the topmost twig sat a thrush singing
away most joyfully. "Oh, what a pretty bird!" said the
Jew; "I would give a great deal of money to have such
a one." "If that's all," said the countryman, "I will soon
bring it down." Then he took up his bow, and down fell
the thrush into the bushes at the foot of the tree. The Jew
crept into the bush to find it; but directly he had got into
the middle, his companion took up his fiddle and played
away, and the Jew began to dance and spring about, capering
higher and higher in the air. The thorns soon began to
tear his clothes till they all hung in rags about him, and
he himself was all scratched and wounded, so that the
blood ran down. "Oh, for pity's sake!" cried the Jew,
"master! master! pray let the fiddle alone. What have
I done to deserve this?" "You have shaved many a poor
soul close enough,' said the other; "you are only meeting
your reward:" so he played up another tune. Then the Jew
began to beg and promise, and offered money for his liberty;
but he did not come up to the musician's price for some time,
and he danced him along brisker and brisker, and the Jew
bid higher and higher, till at last he offered a round hundred
of florins that he had in his purse, and had just gained by
cheating some poor fellow. When the countryman saw so
much money, he said, "I will agree to your proposal." So
he took the purse, put up his fiddle, and travelled on very
well pleased with his bargain.
49 00051.jpg
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"The Jew began to dance and spring about"
41
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50 00052.jpg
Grimm's Fairy Tales
Meanwhile the Jew crept out of the bush half-naked and
in a piteous plight, and began to ponder how he should
take his revenge and serve his late companion some trick.
At last he went to the judge, and complained that a rascal
had robbed him of his money, and beaten him into the
bargain; and that the fellow who did it carried a bow at
his back and a fiddle hung round his neck. Then the
judge sent out his officers to bring up the accused wherever
they should find him; and he was soon caught and brought
up to be tried.
The Jew began to tell his tale, and said he had been
robbed of his money. "No, you gave it me for playing
a tune to you," said the countryman; but the judge told
him that was not likely, and cut the matter short by
ordering him off to the gallows.
So away he was taken; but as he stood on the steps
he said, My Lord Judge, grant me one last request." Any-
thing but thy life," replied the other. "No," said he, "I do
not ask my life; only let me play upon my fiddle for the
last time." The Jew cried out, "Oh, no! no! don't listen
to him! don't listen to him!" But the judge said, "It is
only for this once, he will soon have done." The fact was,
he could not refuse the request, on account of the dwarf's
third gift.
Then the Jew said, "Bind me fast, bind me fast, for pity's
sake." But the countryman seized his fiddle, and struck up
a tune, and at the first note judge, clerks, and jailer were in
motion; all began capering, and no one could hold the Jew.
At the second note the hangman let his prisoner go, and
danced also, and by the time he had played the first bar of
the tune, all were dancing together-judge, court, and Jew,
and all the people who had followed to look on. At first the
thing was merry and pleasant enough; but when it had gone
on a while, and there seemed to be no end of playing or
dancing, they began to cry out, and beg him to leave off; but
42
51 00053.jpg
The Jew in the Bush
he stopped not a whit because of their entreaties, till the
judge not only gave him his life, but promised to return him
the hundred florins.
Then he called to the Jew, and said, "Tell us now, you
vagabond, where you got that gold, or I will play on for
your amusement only." "I stole it," said the Jew in the
presence of all the people: "I acknowledge that I stole it,
and that you earned it fairly." Then the countryman stopped
his fiddle, and left the Jew to take his place at the gallows.
Rumpel-stilts-kin
52 00054.jpg
Rumpel-Stilts-Kin
IN a certain kingdom once lived a poor miller who had a
very beautiful daughter. She was, moreover, exceedingly
shrewd and clever; and the miller was so vain and proud of
her that he one day told the king of the land that his
daughter could spin gold out of straw. Now this king was
very fond of money; and when he heard the miller's boast, his
avarice was excited, and he ordered the girl to be brought
before him. Then he led her to a chamber where there was
a great quantity of straw, gave her a spinning-wheel, and
said: "All this must be spun into gold before morning, as
you value your life." It was in vain that the poor maiden
declared that she could do no such thing, the chamber was
locked and she remained alone.
She sat down in one corner of the room and began to
lament over her hard fate, when on a sudden the door opened,
and a droll-looking little man hobbled in, and said: "Good-
morrow to you, my good lass, what are you weeping for?"
"Alas!" answered she, "I must spin this straw into gold,
and I know not how."
53 00055.jpg
Rumpel-Stilts-Kin
"What will you give me," said the little man, "to do it for
you?"
"My necklace," replied the maiden.
He took her at her word, and set himself down to the
wheel. Round about the wheel went merrily, and presently
the work was done and the gold all spun.
When the king came and saw this, he was greatly as-
tonished and pleased; but his heart grew still more greedy of
gain, and he shut up the poor miller's daughter again with a
fresh task. Then she knew not what to do, and sat down
once more to weep; but the little man presently opened the
door, and said: What will you give me to do your task?"
"The ring on my finger," replied she.
So her little friend took the ring, and began to work at the
wheel, and by the morning all was finished again.
The king was vastly delighted to see all this glittering
treasure; but still he was not satisfied, and took the miller's
daughter into a yet larger room full of straw, and said: "All
54 00056.jpg
Grimm's Fairy Tales
this must be spun to-night; and if you succeed, you shall be
my queen."
As soon as she was alone the dwarf came in, and said;
"What will you give me to spin gold for you this time?"
I have nothing left," said she.
"Then promise me," said the little man, "your first little
child when you are queen."
"That may never be," thought the miller's daughter; and
as she knew no other way to get her task done, she promised
him what he asked, and he span once more the whole heap of
gold. The king came in the morning, and finding all he
wanted, married her, and so the miller's daughter really
became queen.
At the birth of her first little child the queen rejoiced very
much, and forgot the little man and her promise; but one
day he came into her chamber and reminded her of it. Then
she grieved sorely at her misfortune, and offered him all the
treasures of the kingdom instead of the child, but in vain.
At last, however, her tears softened him, and he said: I will
give you three days' grace, and if during that time you tell me
my name, you shall keep your child."
Now the queen lay awake all night, thinking of all the odd
names she had ever heard, and despatched messengers all
over the land to enquire after new ones. The next day the
little man came, and she began with Timothy, Benjamin,
Jeremiah, and all the names she could remember; but to all
of them he said: "That's not my name."
The second day she began with all the comical names she
could hear of, Bandy-legs, Hunch-back, Crook-shanks, and so
on, but the little gentleman still said to every one of them:
"That's not my name."
On the third day one of the messengers came back, and
said: I can hear of no other names; but yesterday, as I was
climbing a high hill among the trees of the forest where the
fox and the hare bid each other good-night, I saw-a little
46
55 00057.jpg
Rumpelstiltskin dashes his Foot into the Floor
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56 00059.jpg
Rumpel-Stilts-Kin
hut, and before the hut burnt a fire, and round about the fire
danced a funny little man upon one leg, and sang:
"Merrily the feast I'll make,
To-day I'll brew, to-morrow bake;
Merrily I'll dance and sing,
For next day will a stranger bring:
Little does my lady dream
Rumpel-Stilts-Kin is my name!"
When the queen heard this, she jumped for joy. Soon
after her little visitor came, and said: "Now, lady, what is my
name?"
"Is it John?" asked she. "No!" "Is it Tom?" "No!"
"Can your name be Rumpel-stilts-kin?"
"Some witch told you that! Some witch told you that!"
cried the little man, and dashed his foot in a rage so deep into
the floor that he was forced to lay hold of it with both hands
to pull it out. Then he made the best of his way off, while
everybody laughed at him for having had all his trouble for
nothing.
The Frog-prince
57 00060.jpg
The Frog-Prince
ONE fine evening a young princess went into a wood, and sat
down by the side of a cool spring of water. She had a golden
ball in her hand, which was her favourite plaything, and she
amused herself with tossing it into the air and catching it
again as it fell. After a time she threw it up so high, that
when she stretched out her hand to catch it, the ball bounded
away and rolled along upon the ground, till at last it fell into
the spring. The princess looked into the spring after her ball;
but it was very deep, so deep that she could not see the bottom
of it. Then she began to lament her loss, and said, Alas! if
I could only get my ball again, I would give all my fine clothes
and jewels, and everything that I have in the world." Whilst
she was speaking a frog put its head out of the water and
said, "Princess, why do you weep so bitterly?" "Alas!" said
she, what can you do for me, you nasty frog? My golden
ball has fallen into the spring." The frog said, I want not
your pearls and jewels and fine clothes; but if you will love
me and let me live with you, and eat from your little golden
plate, and sleep upon your little bed, I will bring you your
ball again." "What nonsense," thought the princess, "this
silly frog is talking! He can never get out of the well: how-
ever, he may be able to get my ball for me; and therefore I
will promise him what he asks." So she said to the frog,
"Well, if you will bring me my ball, I promise to do all you
require."
Then the frog put his head down, and dived deep under
the water; and after a little while he came up again with the
ball in his mouth, and threw it on the ground. As soon as
the young princess saw her ball, she ran to pick it up, a was
58 00061.jpg
" A frog put its head out of the water "
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59 00062.jpg
Grimm's Fairy Tales
so overjoyed to have it in her hand again, that she never
thought of the frog, but ran home with it as fast as she could.
The frog called after her, Stay, princess, and take me with
you as you promised;" but she did not stop to hear a word.
The next day, just as the princess had sat down to dinner,
she heard a strange noise, tap-tap, as if somebody was coming
up the marble staircase; and soon afterwards something
knocked gently at the door, and said,
"Open the door, my princess dear,
Open the door to thy true love here!
And mind the words that thou and I said
By the fountain cool in the greenwood shade."
Then the princess ran to the door, and opened it, and there
she saw the frog, whom she had quite forgotten; she was
terribly frightened, and shutting the door as fast as she could,
came back to her seat. The king her father asked her what
had frightened her. There is a nasty frog," said she, "at the
door, who lifted my ball out of the spring last evening: I
promised him that he should live with me here, thinking that
he could never get out of the spring; but there he is at the
door and wants to come in!" While she was speaking the
frog knocked again at the door, and said,
"Open the door, my princess dear,
Open the door to thy true love here!
And mind the words that thou and I said
By the fountain cool in the greenwood shade."
The king said to the young princess, "As you have made a
promise, you must keep it, so go and let him in." She did so,
and the frog hopped into the room, and came up close to the
table. "Pray lift me upon a chair," said he to the princess,
"and let me sit next to you." As soon as she had done this,
the frog said, Put your plate closer to me that I may eat out
of it." This she did, and when he had eaten as much as he
60 00063.jpg
The Frog-Prince
could, he said, Now I am tired; carry me upstairs and put
me into your little bed." And the princess took him up in
her hand and put him upon the pillow of her own little bed,
where he slept all night long. As soon as it was light he
jumped up, hopped downstairs and went out of the house.
"Now," thought the princess, "he is gone, and I shall be
troubled with him no more."
But she was mistaken; for when night came again, she
heard the same tapping at the door, and when she opened it,
the frog came in and slept upon her pillow as before till the
morning broke: and the third night he did the same; but
when the princess awoke on the following morning, she was
astonished to see, instead of the frog, a handsome prince
gazing on her with the most beautiful eyes that ever were
seen, and standing at the head of her bed.
He told her that he had been enchanted by a malicious
fairy, who had changed him into the form of a frog, in which
he was fated to remain till some princess should take him out
of the spring and let him sleep upon her bed for three nights.
"You," said the prince, "have broken this cruel charm, and
now I have nothing to wish for but that you should go with
me into my father's kingdom, where I will marry you, and
love you as long as you live."
The young princess, you may be sure, was not long in
giving her consent; and as they spoke a splendid carriage
drove up with eight beautiful horses decked with plumes of
feathers and golden harness, and behind rode the prince's
servant, the faithful Henry, who had bewailed the misfortune
of his dear master so long and bitterly that his heart had well-
nigh burst. Then all set out full of joy for the prince's king-
dom; where they arrived safely, and lived happily a great
many years.
The Tom-Tit and the Bear
61 00064.jpg
The Tom-Tit and the Bear
ONE summer day, as the wolf and the bear were walking to-
gether in a wood, they heard a bird singing most delightfully.
" Brother," said the bear, "what can that bird be that is sing-
ing so sweetly?" "Oh!" said the wolf, "that is his majesty
the king of the birds, we must take care to show him all
possible respect." (Now I should tell you that this bird was
after all no other than the tom-tit.) "If that is the case,"
said the bear, "I should like to see the royal palace; so pray
come along and show it to me." "Gently, my friend," said
the wolf, "we cannot see it just yet, we must wait till the
queen comes home."
Soon afterwards the queen came with food in her beak,
and she and the king began to feed their young ones. "Now
for it!" said the bear; and was about to follow them, to see
what was to be seen. "Stop a little, master Bruin," said the
wolf, "we must wait now till their majesties are gone again."
So they marked the hole where they had seen the nest, and
went away. But the bear, being very eager to see the royal
palace, soon came back again, and, peeping into the nest, saw
five or six young birds lying at the bottom of it. "What
nonsense" said Bruin, "this is not a royal palace: I never
saw such a filthy place in my life; and you are no royal
children, you little base-born brats!" When the young tom-
tits heard this they were very angry, and screamed out,
"We are not base-born, you stupid bear! our father and
mother are honest good sort of people: and depend upon it
you shall suffer for your insolence!" At this the wolf and
the bear grew frightened, and ran away to their dens. But
the young tom-tits kept crying and screaming; and when
5?
62 00065.jpg
" We are not base-born, you stupid bear "
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Grimm's Fairy Tales
their father and mother came home and offered them food,
they all said, "We will not touch a bit; no, not the leg of
a fly, though we should die of hunger, till that rascal Bruin
has been punished for calling us base-born brats." "Make
yourselves easy, my darlings," said the old king, "you may
be sure he shall meet with his deserts."
So he went out and stood before the bear's den, and cried
out with a loud voice, "Bruin the bear! thou hast shame-
fully insulted our lawful children: we therefore hereby de-
clare bloody and cruel war against thee and thine, which shall
never cease until thou hast been punished as thou so richly
deservest" Now when the bear heard this, he called together
the ox, the ass, the stag, and all the beasts of the earth, in
order to consult about the means of his defence. And the
tom-tit also enlisted on his side all the birds of the air, both
great and small, and a very large army of hornets, gnats,
bees, and flies, and other insects.
As the time approached when the war was to begin, the
tom-tit sent out spies to see who was the commander-in-
chief of the enemy's forces; and the gnat, who was by far
the cleverest spy of them all, flew backwards and forwards
in the wood where the enemy's troops were, and at last hid
himself under a leaf on a tree, close by which the orders of
the day were given out. And the bear, who was standing
so near the tree that the gnat could hear all he said, called to
the fox and said, "Reynard, you are the cleverest of all the
beasts; therefore you shall be our general and lead us to
battle: but we must first agree upon some signal, by which
we may know what you want us to do." Behold," said the
fox, "I have a fine, long, bushy tail, which is very like a
plume of red feathers, and gives me a very warlike air; now
remember, when you see me raise up my tail, you may be
sure that the battle is won, and you have then nothing to do
but to rush down upon the enemy with all your force. On
the other hand, if I drop my tail, the day is lost, and you
64 00067.jpg
The Tom-Tit and the Bear
must run away as fast as you can." Now when the gnat
had heard all this, she flew back to the tom-tit and told him
everything that had passed.
At length the day came when the battle was to be fought;
and as soon as it was light, behold! the army of beasts came
rushing forward with such a fearful sound that the earth
shook. And his majesty the tom-tit, with his troops, came
flying along in warlike array, flapping and fluttering, and
beating the air, so that it was quite frightful to hear; and
both armies set themselves in order of battle upon the field.
Now the tom-tit gave orders to a troop of hornets that at
the first onset they should march straight towards Captain
Reynard, and fixing themselves about his tail, should sting
him with all their might and main. The hornets did as they
were told: and when Reynard felt the first sting, he started
aside and shook one of his legs, but still held up his tail with
wonderful bravery; at the second sting he was forced to drop
his tail for a moment; but when the third hornet had fixed
itself, he could bear it no longer, but clapped his tail between
his legs and scampered away as fast as he could. As soon
as the beasts saw this, they thought of course all was lost,
and scoured across the country in the greatest dismay, leaving
the birds masters of the field.
And now the king and queen flew back in triumph to
their children, and said, "Now, children, eat, drink, and be
merry, for the victory is ours!" But the young birds said,
" No: not till Bruin has humbly begged our pardon for calling
us base-born." So the king flew back to the bear's den, and
cried out, "Thou villain bear! come forthwith to my abode,
and humbly beseech my children to forgive the insult thou
hast offered them; for, if thou wilt not do this, every bone in
thy wretched body shall be broken to pieces." Then the bear
was forced to crawl out of his den very sulkily, and do what
the king bade him: and after that the young birds sat down
together, and ate and drank and made merry till midnight.
55
The Fisherman and His Wife
65 00068.jpg
The Fisherman and his Wife
THERE was once a fisherman who lived with his wife in a
ditch, close by the sea-side. The fisherman used to go out
all day long a-fishing; and one day, as he sat on the shore
with his rod, looking at the shining water and watching his
line, all on a sudden his float was dragged away deep under
the sea: and in drawing it up he pulled a great fish out of the
water. The fish said to him, "Pray let me live: I am not
a real fish; I am an enchanted prince, put me in the water
again, and let me go." "Oh!" said the man, "you need not
make so many words about the matter; I wish to have no-
thing to do with a fish that can talk; so swim away as soon
as you please." Then he put him back into the water, and
the fish darted straight down to the bottom, and left a long
streak of blood behind him.
When the fisherman went home to his wife in the ditch,
he told her how he had caught a great fish, and how it had
told him that it was an enchanted prince, and that on hearing
it speak he had let it go again. "Did you not ask it for
anything?" said the wife. "No," said the man; "what should
I ask for?" "Ah!" said the wife, "we live very wretchedly
here in this nasty stinking ditch; do go back, and tell the
fish we want a little cottage."
The fisherman did not much like the business: however, he
went to the sea, and when he came there the water looked all
yellow and green. And he stood at the water's edge, and said:
0 man of the sea
Come listen to me,
For Alice my wife,
The plague of my life,
Hath sent me to beg a boon of thee !"
56
66 00069.jpg
The Fisherman and his Wife
Then the fish came swimming to him, and said, "Well,
what does she want?" "Ah!" answered the fisherman, "my
wife says that when I had caught you, I ought to have asked
you for something before I let you go again; she does not
like living any longer in the ditch, and wants a little cottage."
"Go home, then," said the fish; "she is in the cottage al-
ready." So the man went home, and saw his wife standing
at the door of a cottage. "Come in, come in," said she; "is
not this much better than the ditch?" And there was a
parlour, and a bed-chamber, and a kitchen; and behind the
cottage there was a little garden with all sorts of flowers and
fruits, and a courtyard full of ducks and chickens. "Ah!"
said the fisherman, "how happily we shall live!" "We will
try to do so at least," said his wife.
Everything went right for a week or two, and then Dame
Alice said, "Husband, there is not room enough in this
cottage, the courtyard and garden are a great deal too small;
I should like to have a large stone castle to live in; so go
to the fish again, and tell him to give us a castle." "Wife,"
said the fisherman, "I don't like to go to him again, for
perhaps he will be angry; we ought to be content with the
cottage." "Nonsense!" said the wife; "he will do it very
willingly; go along and try."
The fisherman went; but his heart was heavy: and when
he came to the sea it looked blue and gloomy, though it was
quite calm, and he went close to it, and said:
"0 man of the sea I
Come listen to me,
For Alice my wife,
The plague of my life,
Hath sent me to beg a boon of thee I"
"Well, what does she want now?" said the fish. "Ah!"
said the man very sorrowfully, "my wife wants to live in a
stone castle." Go home, then," said the fish; "she is stand-
67 00070.jpg
Grimm's Fairy Tales
ing at the door of it already." So away went the fisherman,
and found his wife standing before a great castle. See,"
said she, "is not this grand?" With that they went into the
castle together, and found a great many servants there, and
the rooms all richly furnished and full of golden chairs and
tables; and behind the castle was a garden, and a wood half
a mile long, full of sheep, and goats, and hares, and deer;
and in the courtyard were stables and cowhouses. "Well!"
said the man, now we will live contented and happy in this
beautiful castle for the rest of our lives." Perhaps we may,"
said the wife; "but let us consider and sleep upon it before
we make up our minds." So they went to bed.
The next morning, when Dame Alice awoke, it was broad
daylight, and she jogged the fisherman with her elbow, and
said, Get up, husband, and bestir yourself, for we must be
king of all the land." Wife, wife," said the man, "why
should we wish to be king? I will not be king." "Then
I will," said Alice. "But, wife," answered the fisherman,
"how can you be king? the fish cannot make you a king."
"Husband," said she, "say no more about it, but go and try;
I will be king!" So the man went away, quite sorrowful to
think that his wife should want to be king. The sea looked
a dark-gray colour, and was covered with foam as he cried
out:
0 man of the sea!
Come listen to me,
For Alice my wife,
The plague of my life,
Hath sent me to beg a boon of thee I"
"Well, what would she have now?" said the fish. "Alas!"
said the man, "my wife wants to be king." "Go home,"
said the fish; "she is king already."
Then the fisherman went home; and as he came close to
the palace, he saw a troop of soldiers, and heard the sound
of drums and trumpets; and when he entered, he saw his
68 00071.jpg
The Fisherman asks a Boon of the Fish
59
69 00072.jpg
Grimm's Fairy Tales
wife sitting on a high throne of gold and diamonds, with a
golden crown upon her head; and on each side of her stood
six beautiful maidens, each a head taller than the other.
"Well, wife," said the fisherman, "are you king?" "Yes,"
said she, "I am king." And when he had looked at her for
a long time, he said, "Ah, wife! what a fine thing it is to
be king! now we shall never have anything more to wish
for." "I don't know how that may be," said she; "never
is a long time. I am king, 'tis true, but I begin to be tired
of it, and I think I should like to be emperor." "Alas,
wife! why should you wish to be emperor?" said the fisher-
man. "Husband," said she, "go to the fish; I say I will
be emperor." "Ah, wife!" replied the fisherman, "the fish
cannot make an emperor, and I should not like to ask for
such a thing." "I am king," said Alice, "and you are my
slave, so go directly!" So the fisherman was obliged to go;
and he muttered as he went along, "This will come to no
good, it is too much to ask, the fish will be tired at last,
and then we shall repent of what we have done." He soon
arrived at the sea, and the water was quite black and muddy,
and a mighty whirlwind blew over it; but he went to the
shore, and said:
"O man of the sea I
Come listen to me,
For Alice my wife,
The plague of my life,
Hath sent me to beg a boon of thee!"
"What would she have now?" said the fish. "Ah!" said
the fisherman, "she wants to be emperor." "Go home," said
the fish; "she is emperor already."
So he went home again; and as he came near he saw
his wife sitting on a very lofty throne made of solid gold,
with a great crown on her head full two yards high, and on
each side of her stood her guards and attendants in a row,
60
70 00073.jpg
The Fisherman and his Wife
each one smaller than the other, from the tallest giant down
to a little dwarf no bigger than my finger. And before her
stood princes, and dukes, and earls: and the fisherman went
up to her and said, "Wife, are you emperor?" "Yes," said
she, "I am emperor." "Ah!" said the man as he gazed
upon her, "what a fine thing it is to be emperor!" "Hus-
band," said she, "why should we stay at being emperor? I
will be pope next." "0 wife, wife!" said he, "how can you
be pope? there is but one pope at a time in Christendom."
"Husband," said she, I will be pope this very day." "But,"
replied the husband, the fish cannot make you pope." "What
nonsense!" said she; "if he can make an emperor, he can
make a pope, go and try him." So the fisherman went. But
when he came to the shore the wind was raging, and the sea
was tossed up and down like boiling water, and the ships
were in the greatest distress and danced upon the waves
most fearfully; in the middle of the sky there was a little
blue, but towards the south it was all red, as if a dreadful
storm was rising. At this the fisherman was terribly frightened,
and trembled, so that his knees knocked together; but he
went to the shore and said-
O man of the sea!
Come listen to me,
For Alice my wife,
The plague of my life,
Hath sent me to beg a boon of thee!"
"What does she want now?" said the fish. "Ah!" said
the fisherman, "my wife wants to be pope." "Go home,"
said the fish, "she is pope already."
Then the fisherman went home, and found his wife sitting
on a throne that was two miles high; and she had three
great crowns on her head, and around stood all the pomp
and power of the Church; and on each side were two rows
of burning lights, of all sizes, the greatest as large as the
71 00074.jpg
Grimm's Fairy Tales
highest and biggest tower in the world, and the least no
larger than a small rushlight. Wife," said the fisherman,
as he looked at all this grandeur, "are you pope?" "Yes,"
said she, "I am pope." "Well, wife," replied he, "it is a
grand thing to be pope; and now you must be content, for
you can be nothing greater." I will consider of that," said
the wife. Then they went to bed: but Dame Alice could
not sleep all night for thinking what she should be next.
At last morning came, and the sun rose. "Ah!" thought
she as she looked at it through the window, cannot I pre-
vent the sun rising?" At this she was very angry, and
wakened her husband, and said, "Husband, go to the fish
and tell him I want to be lord of the sun and moon." The
fisherman was half asleep, but the thought frightened him
so much, that he started and fell out of bed. "Alas, wife!"
said he, "cannot you be content to be pope?" "No," said
she, I am very uneasy, and cannot bear to see the sun and
moon rise without my leave. Go to the fish directly."
Then the man went trembling for fear; and as he was
going down to the shore a dreadful storm arose, so that the
trees and the rocks shook; and the heavens became black,
and the lightning played, and the thunder rolled; and you
might have seen in the sea great black waves like mountains
with a white crown of foam upon them; and the fisherman
said:
0 man of the sea!
Come listen to me,
For Alice my wife,
The plague of my life,
Hath sent me to beg a boon of thee!"
"What does she want now?" said the fish. "Ah!" said
he, "she wants to be lord of the sun and moon." Go home,"
said the fish, "to your ditch again!" And there they live
to this very day.
The Grateful Beasts
72 00075.jpg
The Grateful Beasts
A CERTAIN man, who had lost almost all his money, resolved
to set off with the little that was left him, and travel into the
wide world. Now the first place he came to was a village,
where the young people were running about crying and shout-
ing.
"What is the matter?" asked he.
"See here," answered they, "we have got a mouse that we
make dance to please us. Do look at him: what a droll sight
it is! how he jumps about!"
But the man pitied the poor little thing, and said, Let the
mouse go, and I will give you money." So he gave them
some, and took the mouse and let him run; and he soon
jumped into a hole that was close by, and was out of their
reach.
Then he travelled on and came to another village, and
there the children had got an ass that they made stand on its
hind-legs, and tumble and cut capers, at which they laughed
and shouted, and gave the poor beast no rest. So the good
man gave them some of his money to let the poor creature go
away in peace.
At the next village he came to, the young people had
found a bear that had been taught to dance, and they were
plaguing the poor thing sadly. Then he gave them, too, some
money to let the beast go, and the bear was very glad to get
on his four feet, and seemed quite at his ease and happy again.
But he found that he had given away all the money he had
in the world, and had not a shilling in his pocket. Then said
he to himself, The king has heaps of gold in his treasury that
he never uses; I cannot die of hunger; I hope I shall be for-
73 00076.jpg
Grimm's Fairy Tales
given if I borrow a little, and when I get rich again I will re-
pay it all."
So he managed to get into the treasury, and took a very
little money; but as he came out the king's guards saw him,
and said he was a thief, and took him to the judge, and he
was sentenced to be thrown into the water in a box. The lid
of the box was full of holes to let in air, and a jug of water
and a loaf of bread were given him.
Whilst he was swimming along in the water very sorrow-
fully, he heard something nibbling and biting at the lock; and
all of a sudden it fell off, the lid flew open, and there stood his
old friend the little mouse, who had done him this service.
And then came the ass and the bear, and pulled the box
ashore; and all helped him, because he had been kind to
them.
But now they did not know what to do next, and began
to consult together; when on a sudden a wave threw on the
shore a beautiful white stone that looked like an egg. Then
the bear said, "That's a lucky thing; this is the wonderful
stone, and whoever has it may have everything else that he
wishes."
So the man went and picked up the stone, and wished
for a palace and a garden, and a stud of horses; and his
wish was fulfilled as soon as he had made it. And there he
lived in his castle and garden, with fine stables and horses;
and all was so grand and beautiful, that he never could wonder
and gaze at it enough.
After some time, some merchants passed by that way.
"See," said they, "what a princely palace! The last time we
were here, it was nothing but a desert waste." They were
very curious to know how all this had happened; so they
went in and asked the master of the palace how it had been
so quickly raised.
"I have done nothing myself," answered he, "it is a
wonderful stone that did all."
74 00077.jpg
They find the wonderful Stone
(B 00oo)
75 00078.jpg
Grimm's Fairy Tales
SWhat a strange stone that must be!" said they.
Then he invited them in and showed it to them. They
asked him whether he would sell it, and offered him all their
goods for it; and the goods seemed so fine and costly, that
he quite forgot that the stone would bring him in a moment
a thousand better and richer things, and he agreed to make
the bargain.
Scarcely was the stone, however, out of his hands when
all his riches were gone, and he found himself sitting in his
box in the water, with his jug of water and a loaf of bread by
his side. The. grateful beasts, the mouse, the ass, and the bear,
came directly to help him; but the mouse found she could not
nibble off the lock this time, for it was a great deal stronger
than before. Then the bear said, "We must find the wonder-
ful stone again, or all we can do will be fruitless."
The merchants, meantime, had taken up their abode in the
palace; so away went the three friends, and when they came
near, the bear said, Mouse, go in and look through the key-
hole and see where the stone is kept: you are small, nobody
will see you."
The mouse did as she was told, but soon came back and
said, "Bad news! I have looked in, and the stone hangs
under the looking-glass by a red silk string, and on each side
of it sits a great cat with fiery eyes to watch it."
Then the others took counsel together and said, Go back
again, and wait till the master of the palace is in bed asleep,
then nip his nose and pull his hair." Away went the mouse,
and did as they directed her; and the master jumped up very
angry, and rubbed his nose, and cried, "Those rascally cats
are good for nothing at all, they let the mice eat my very nose
and pull the hair off my head." Then he hunted them out of
the room; and so the mouse had the best of the game.
Next night, as soon as the master was asleep, the mouse
crept in again, and nibbled at the red silken string to which
the stone hung, till down it dropped, and she rolled it along
66
76 00079.jpg
The Grateful Beasts
to the door; but when it got there, the poor little mouse was
quite tired: and said to the ass, "Put in your foot, and lift it
over the threshold." This was soon done: and they took up
the stone, and set off for the water-side.
Then the ass said, How shall we reach the box?"
"That is easily managed," answered the bear; "I can
swim very well, and do you, Donkey, put your fore-feet over
my shoulders;-mind and hold fast, and take the stone in
your mouth: as for you, Mouse, you can sit in my ear."
It was all settled thus, and away they swam. After a
time, the bear began to brag and boast: "We are brave
fellows, are not we, Ass?" said he; "what do you think?"
But the ass held his tongue, and said not a word.
"Why don't you answer me?" said the bear; "you must
be an ill-mannered brute not to speak when you're spoken to."
When the ass heard this, he could hold no longer; so he
opened his mouth, and dropped the wonderful stone. I could
not speak," said he; "did not you know I had the stone in
my mouth? now 'tis lost, and that's your fault."
"Do but hold your tongue and be quiet," said the bear,
"and let us think what's to be done."
Then a council was held: and at last they called together
all the frogs, their wives and families, relations and friends,
and said: "A great enemy is coming to eat you all up; but
never mind, bring us up plenty of stones, and we'll build a
strong wall to guard you." The frogs hearing this were dread-
fully frightened, and set to work, bringing up all the stones
they could find. At last came a large fat frog pulling along
the wonderful stone by the silken string: and when the bear
saw it, he jumped for joy, and said, "Now we have found
what we wanted." So he relieved the old frog of his load,
and told him to tell his friends they might go about their
business as soon as they pleased.
Then the three friends swam off again for the box; and
the lid flew open, and they found that they were but just in
67
77 00080.jpg
Grimm's Fairy Tales
time, for the bread was all eaten, and the jug almost empty.
But as soon as the good man had the stone in his hand, he
wished himself safe and sound in his palace again; and in
a moment there he was, with his garden and his stables and
his horses; and his three faithful friends dwelt with him, and
they all spent their time happily and merrily as long as they
lived.
78 00081.jpg
...-:' .,sB ^
.... ..
'
S. --.
The Woodman scolds Roland
... ; .
; .. i ,
" ,
' J ,' '- -"
"'' ,.,;. '; -_ .
P ;- ; ,; .
,, r. i.,,. ,. ,;
The Wor~odman scld oln
Roland and May-bird
79 00083.jpg
Roland and May-Bird
THERE was once a poor man who went every day to cut
wood in the forest. One day as he went along he heard
a cry like a little child's; so he followed the sound till at
last he saw a very little girl sitting on one of the branches
of a high tree. Its mother had fallen asleep, and a vulture
had taken it out of her lap and flown away with it and left
it on the tree. Then the wood-cutter climbed up, took
the little child down, and said to himself, "I will take this
poor child home and bring it up with my own son Roland."
So he carried the little girl to his cottage; and he called
her May-bird, because he had found her on a tree in May.
So May-bird and Roland grew up together, and they became
very fond of each other.
Now the wood-cutter became very poor, and had nothing
in the world he could call his own, and indeed he had scarcely
bread enough for his wife and the two children to eat. At
last the time came when even that was all gone, and he
knew not where to seek for help in his need. Then at
night, as he lay on his bed and turned himself here and
there, restless and full of care, his wife said to him," Husband,
listen to me. You must take the two children out early
69
80 00084.jpg
Grimm's Fairy Tales
to-morrow morning, give each of them a piece of bread,
and lead them into the midst of the wood where it is
thickest. Then make a fire for them, and leave them alone,
for we can no longer keep them here." "No, wife," said
the husband, "I cannot find it in my heart to leave the
children to the wild beasts of the forest, who would soon
tear them to pieces." "Well, if you will not do as I say,"
answered the wife, "we must all starve together;" and she
let him have no peace until he agreed to her plan.
Meantime the poor children were also lying awake, restless
and weak from hunger, so that they heard all that their
mother said. "Now," thought May-bird to herself, "it is
all up with us;" and she began to weep. But Roland crept
to her bed-side, and said, "Do not be afraid, May-bird, I
will find some help." Then he got up, put on his jacket,
and went out.
The moon shone bright upon the little court before the
cottage, and the white pebbles glittered like daisies on the
green meadows. So he put as many as he could into his
pocket, and then went- back to the house. "Now, May-bird,"
said he, rest in peace;" and he went to bed and fell asleep.
Early in the morning, before the sun had risen, the wood-
man's wife came and awoke them. Get up, children," said
she, "we are going into the wood; there is a piece of bread
for each of you, but take care of it, and keep some for the
afternoon." May-bird took the bread and carried it in her
apron, because Roland had his pockets full of stones. Then
they went into the wood.
When they had walked on for a time, Roland stopped
and looked towards home, and after a while he turned
again, and he did so several times. Then his father said,
"Roland, why do you keep turning and lagging behind so?
Move your legs a little faster." "Ahl father," answered
Roland, "I am stopping to look at my white cat that sits
on the roof, and wants to say good-bye to me." "That
70
81 00085.jpg
rr
, .
'" -' -,
.:. :, =" .,, ..
., ,,.. .. .. .-
-. ." ..; ., ",, .' ', !.'..j ,, t ,- t: ., ,-.,.:
Roland and Maybird in the Depths of the Wood
82 00087.jpg
Roland and May-Bird
is not your cat," said his mother; "'tis the morning sun
shining on the chimney-top." Now Roland had not been
looking at the cat, but had all the while been staying behind
to drop from his pocket one white pebble after another along
the road.
When they came into the midst of the forest, the wood-
man said, "Run about, children, and pick up some wood,
and I will make a fire to keep us all warm." So they piled
up a little heap of brushwood, and set it alight; and as the
flame burnt bright, the mother said, "Now seat yourselves
by the fire, while we go and cut wood in the forest; and
be sure you wait till we come for you." Roland and May-
bird sat by the fireside till the afternoon, and then they
ate their bread. They fancied the woodman was still in
the wood, because they thought they heard the blows of
his axe; but it was a bough which he had cunningly hung
upon a tree, so that the wind blew it backwards and forwards,
and it sounded like the axe as it hit the other boughs. Thus
they waited till evening; but the woodman and his wife kept
away, and no one came to fetch them.
When it was quite dark May-bird began to cry; but
Roland said, Wait awhile till the moon rises." And when
the moon rose, he took her by the hand, and there lay the
pebbles along the ground, glittering like new pieces of money,
and marking out the way. Towards morning they came
again to the woodman's house, and he was glad in his
heart when he saw the children again; for he had grieved
at leaving them alone. His wife also seemed to be glad;
but in her heart she was angry.
Not long after there was again no bread in the house,
and May-bird and Roland heard the wife say to her husband,
"The children found their way home once, and I took it
in good part; but there is only half a loaf of bread left for
them in the house; to-morrow you must take them deeper
into the wood, that they may never come back, or we shall
71
83 00088.jpg
Grimm's Fairy Tales
all be starved." It grieved the husband in his heart to
do as his wife wished, and he thought it would be better
to share their last morsel with the children; but as he had
done as she said once, he did not dare to say no. The
children again heard what they said, and Roland got up
and wanted to gather pebbles as before; but when he came
to the door he found his mother had locked it. Still he
comforted May-bird, and said, "Sleep in peace, dear May-
bird; God is very kind and will help us." Early in the
morning a piece of bread was given to each of them, but
even smaller than the one they had before. Upon the road
Roland crumbled his in his pocket, and often stood still, and
threw a crumb upon the ground. "Why do you lag so
behind, Roland?" said the woodman. I am looking at my
little dove that is sitting upon the roof, and wants to say good-
bye to me." "You silly boy!" said the wife, "that is not your
little dove; it is the morning sun that shines on the chimney-
top." But Roland went on crumbling his bread, and throwing
it on the ground. And thus they went still farther into the
wood, where they had never been before. There they were
again told to sit down by a large fire, and sleep; and the
woodman and his wife said they would come in the evening
and fetch them away. In the afternoon Roland shared May-
bird's bread, because he had strewed all his upon the road;
but the day passed away, and evening passed away too, and
no one came to the poor children. Still Roland comforted
May-bird, and said, "Wait till the moon rises; then I shall
see the crumbs of bread which I have. strewed, and they
will show us the way home."
The moon rose; but when Roland looked for the crumbs,
they were gone; for thousands of little birds in the wood had
found them and picked them up. They set out, however, to
try and find their way home; but they soon lost themselves
in the wilderness, and went on all night and all the next
day, till at last they were so weary that they lay down and
p2
84 00089.jpg
r! '"'
:". -
. ... .- --, .,- .
They begin to eat the Cake and the Sugar
85 00091.jpg
Roland and May-Bird
fell asleep. When they awoke again they went on as before
for another day, but still did not reach the end of the wood,
and they were very hungry, for they had had nothing to eat.
In the afternoon of the third day they came to a strange
little hut, made of bread, with a roof of cake, and windows
of sparkling sugar. "Now we shall sit down and eat till
we have had enough," said Roland; "I will eat off the roof
for my share; do you eat the windows, May-bird, they will
be nice and sweet for you." But suddenly a sweet pretty
voice called from within:
"Tip, tap! who goes there?"
And the children answered:
"The wind, the wind,
That blows through the air!"
and went on eating. May-bird broke out a round pane of
the window for herself, and Roland tore off a large piece
of cake from the roof. Then the door opened, and a little
old woman came gliding out. At this May-bird and Roland
were so frightened, that they let fall what they had in their
hands. But the old woman shook her head, and said, "Dear
children, where have you been wandering about? Come in
with me and you shall have something good." So she took
them both by the hand, and led them into her little hut,
and brought out plenty to eat-milk and pancakes, with
sugar, apples, and nuts; and then two beautiful little beds
were got ready, and May-bird and Roland laid themselves
down, and were very happy. But the old woman was a
spiteful fairy, and had made her pretty sweetmeat house to
entrap little children. Early in the morning she went to
their little bed, but when she saw the two sleeping and
looking so sweet, she had no pity on them. Then she took
up Roland, and put him in a little coop by himself; and when
he awoke, he found himself behind a grating, shut up as little
73
86 00092.jpg
Grimm's Fairy Tales
chickens are. But she shook May-bird, and called out, Get
up, you lazy little thing, and fetch some water; and go into
the kitchen and cook something good to eat. Your brother
is shut up yonder; I shall first fatten him, and then I think
I shall eat him."
When the fairy was gone, May-bird got up and ran to
Roland, and told him what she had heard, and said, "We
must run away quickly, for the old woman is a bad fairy,
and will kill us." But Roland said, "You must first steal
her fairy wand, that we may save ourselves, if she should
follow." Then May-bird ran back and fetched the magic
wand, and away they went together. When the old fairy
came back, and saw no one at home, she sprang in a great
rage to the window, and looked out into the wide world,
and a long way off she spied May-bird running away with
her dear Roland. "You are already a great way off," said
she, "but you shall still fall into my hands." Then she put
on her boots, which walked several miles at a step, and
scarcely made two steps with them, before she overtook
the children. But May-bird saw that the fairy was coming
after them, and by the help of the wand turned her dear
Roland into a lake, and herself into a swan which swam
about in the middle of it. So the fairy set herself down
on the shore, and threw crumbs of bread to the swan; but
it would not come near her, and she was forced to go home
in the evening, without taking her revenge. Then May-bird
changed herself and her dear Roland back into their own
forms once more, and they went journeying on the whole
night until the dawn of day, when May-bird turned herself
into a beautiful rose, which grew in the midst of a quick-set
hedge, and Roland sat by the side and played upon his flute.
The fairy soon came striding along. "Good piper," said
she, "may I pluck the beautiful rose for myself?" "O yes,"
answered he; "and I will play to you meantime." So when
she had crept into the hedge in a great hurry to gather the
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" She was forced to dance a merry jig"
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flower (for she well knew what it was), he began to play
upon his flute; and such was the wonderful power of the
music that, whether she liked it or not, she was forced to
dance a merry jig, on and on without any rest. And as
he did not stop playing for a moment, the thorns at length
tore the clothes from off her body, and pricked her sorely,
and there she stuck fast.
Then May-bird was free once more; but she was very
tired, and Roland said, "Now I will hasten home for help,
and by and by we will be married." And May-bird said,
"I shall stay here in the meantime and wait for you; and,
that no one may know me, I shall turn myself into a stone
and lie in the corner of yonder field." Then Roland went
away, and May-bird waited for him. Now Roland met
with another maiden, who pleased him so much that he
stopped where she lived, and forgot his former friend. So
when May-bird had stayed in the field a long time and
found he did not come back, she became quite sorrowful,
and turned herself into a little daisy, and thought to herself,
"Someone will come and tread me under foot, and so my
sorrows will end." But it so happened that as a shepherd
was keeping watch in the field he found the flower, and
thinking it very pretty, took it home and placed it in a box
in his room. From that time everything throve wonderfully
at the shepherd's house. When he got up in the morning,
all the household work was ready done; the room was swept
and cleaned, the fire made, and the water fetched. And in
the afternoon, when he came home, the table-cloth was laid
and a good dinner ready set for him. He could not make
out how all this happened, for he saw no one in his house;
and although it .pleased him well enough, he was at length
troubled to think how it could be, and went to a cunning
woman who lived hard by, and asked her what he should
do. She said, "There must be witchcraft in it. Look out
to-morrow morning early, and see if anything stirs about in
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Roland and May-Bird
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the room; if it does, throw a white cloth at once over it,
and then the witchcraft will be stopped." The shepherd
did as she said, and the next morning saw the box open
and the daisy come out. Then he sprang up quickly and
threw a white cloth over it. In an instant the spell was
broken, and May-bird stood before him; and as she was
so beautiful he asked her if she would marry him. She said,
"No," because she wished to be faithful to her dear Roland;
but she agreed to stay and keep house for him.
Time passed on, and Roland was to be married to the
maiden that he had found; and according to an old custom
in that land, all the maidens were to come and sing songs
in praise of the bride and bridegroom. But May-bird was
so grieved when she heard that her dearest Roland had
forgotten her, and was to be married to another, that her
heart seemed as if it would burst within her, and she would
not go for a long time. At length she was forced to go
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with the rest; but she kept hiding herself behind the others
until she was left the last. Then she could not any longer
help coming forward; and the moment she began to sing,
Roland sprang up, and cried out, "That is the true bride,
I will have no other than her!" for he knew her by the
sound of her voice; and all that he had forgotten came back
into his mind, and his heart was opened towards her. So
faithful May-bird was married to her dear Roland, and from
that time forward she lived happily.
The Golden Bird
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The Golden Bird
A CERTAIN king had a beautiful garden, and in the garden
stood a tree which bore golden apples. These apples were
always counted, and about the time when they began to grow
ripe it was found that every night one of them was gone.
The king became very angry at this, and ordered the gardener
to keep watch all night under the tree. The gardener set his
eldest son to watch; but about twelve o'clock he fell asleep,
and in the morning another of the apples was missing. Then
the second son was ordered to watch; and at midnight he too
fell asleep, and in the morning another apple was gone. Then
the third son offered to keep watch; but the gardener at first
would not let him, for fear some harm should come to him:
however, at last he consented, and the young man laid himself
under the tree to watch. As the clock struck twelve he heard
a rustling noise in the air, and a bird came flying that was of
pure gold; and as it was snapping at one of the apples with
its beak, the gardener's son jumped up and shot an arrow at it.
But the bird was not harmed by the arrow; only it dropped a
golden feather from its tail, and then flew away. The golden
feather was brought to the king in the morning, and all the
council was called together. Everyone agreed that it was worth
more than all the wealth of the kingdom: but the king said,
"One feather is of no use to me, I must have the whole bird."
Then the gardener's eldest son set out and thought to find
the golden bird very easily; and when he had gone but a
little way, he came to a wood, and by the side of the wood he
saw a fox sitting; so he took his bow and made ready to
shoot at it. Then the fox said, Do not shoot me, for I will
give you good counsel; I know what your business is, and
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that you want to find the golden bird. You will reach a
village in the evening; and when you get there, you will see
two inns opposite to each other, one of which is very pleasant
and beautiful to look at: go not in there, but rest for the
night in the other, though it may appear to you to be very
poor and mean." But the son thought to himself, What can
such a beast as this know about the matter?" So he shot his
arrow at the fox; but he missed it, and it set up its tail above
its back and ran into the wood. Then he went his way,- and
in the evening came to the village where the two inns were;
and in one of these were people singing, and dancing, and
feasting; but the other looked very dirty and poor. I should
be very silly," said he, "if I went to that shabby house, and
left this charming place;" so he went into the smart house,
and ate and drank at his ease, and forgot the bird and his
country too.
Time passed on; and as the eldest son did not come back,
and no tidings were heard of him, the second son set out, and
the same thing happened to him. He met the fox, who gave
him the same good advice: but when he came to the two inns,
his eldest brother was standing at the window where the
merrymaking was, and called to him to come in; and he could
not withstand the temptation, but went in, and forgot the
golden bird and his country in the same manner.
Time passed on again, and the youngest son too wished
to set out into the wide world to seek for the golden bird; but
his father would not listen to it for a long while, for he was
very fond of his son, and was afraid that some ill luck might
happen to him also, and prevent his coming back. However,
at last it was agreed he should go, for he would not rest at
home; and as he came to the wood, he met the fox, and heard
the same good counsel. But he was thankful to the fox, and
did not attempt his life as his brothers had done; so the fox
said, Sit upon my tail, and you will travel faster." So he sat
down, and the fox began to run, and away they went over
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SThe gardener's son shot an arrow at it"
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stock and stone so quick that their hair whistled in the
wind.
When they came to the village, the son followed the fox's
counsel, and without looking about him went to the shabby
inn and rested there all night at his ease. In the morning
came the fox again and met him as he was beginning his
journey, and said, "Go straight forward, till you come to a
castle, before which lie a whole troop of soldiers fast asleep
and snoring; take no notice of them, but go into the castle
and pass on and on till you come to a room, where the golden
bird sits in a wooden cage; close by it stands a beautiful
golden cage; but do not try to take the bird out of the shabby
cage and put it into the handsome one, otherwise you will re-
pent it."
Then the fox stretched out his tail again, and the young
man sat himself down, and away they went over stock and
stone till their hair whistled in the wind.
Before the castle gate all was as the fox had said: so the
son went in and found the chamber where the golden bird
hung in a wooden cage; and below stood the golden cage, and
the three golden apples that had been lost were lying close by
it. Then thought he to himself, It will be a very droll thing
to bring away such a fine bird in this shabby cage;" so he
opened the door and took hold of it and put it into the golden
cage. But the bird set up such a loud scream that all the
soldiers awoke, and they took him prisoner and carried him
before the king. The next morning the court sat to judge
him; and when all was heard, it sentenced him to die, unless
he should bring the king the golden horse which could run as
swiftly as the wind; and if he did this, he was to have the
golden bird given him for his own.
So he set out once more on his journey, sighing, and in
great despair, when on a sudden his good friend the fox met
him, and said, "You see now what has happened on, account
of your not listening to my counsel. I will still, however, tell
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The Golden Bird
you how to find the golden horse, if you will do as I bid you.
You must go straight on till you come to the castle where the
horse stands in his stall: by his side will lie the groom fast
asleep and snoring: take away the horse quietly, but be sure
to put the old leather saddle upon him, and not the golden
one that is close by it." Then the son sat down on the fox's
tail, and away they went over stock and stone till their hair
whistled in the wind.
All went right, and the groom lay snoring with his hand
upon the golden saddle. But when the son looked at the
horse, he thought it a great pity to put fhe leather saddle
upon it. I will give him the good one," said he; "I am sure
he deserves it." As he took up the golden saddle the groom
awoke and cried out so loud, that all the guards ran in and
took him prisoner, and in the morning he was again brought
before the court to be judged, and was sentenced to die. But
it was agreed, that, if he could bring thither the beautiful
princess, he should live, and have the bird and horse given
him for his own.
Then he went his way again very sorrowful; but the old
fox came and said, "Why did you not listen to me? If you
had, you would have carried away both the bird and the horse;
yet will I once more give you counsel. Go straight on, and in
the evening you will arrive at a castle. At tWelve o'clock at
night the princess goes to the bathing-house; go up to her
and give her a kiss, and she will let you lead her away; but
take care you do not suffer her to go and take leave of her
father and mother." Then the fox stretched out his tail, and
so away they went over stock and stone till their hair whistled
again.
As they came to the castle, all was as the fox had said,
and at twelve o'clock the young man met the princess going
to the bath, and gave her the kiss, and she agreed to run away
with him, but begged with many tears that he would let her
take leave of her father. At first he refused, but she wept
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still more and more, and fell at his feet, till at last he con-
sented; but the moment she came to her father's house, the
guards awoke and he was taken prisoner again.
Then he was brought before the king, and the king said,
"You shall never have my daughter unless in eight days you
dig away the hill that stops the view from my window." Now
this hill was so big that the whole world could not take it
away; and when he had worked for seven days, and had done
very little, the fox came and said, Lie down and go to sleep;
I will work for you." And in the morning he awoke and the
hill was gone; so he went merrily to the king, and told him
that now that it was removed he must give him the princess.
Then the king was obliged to keep his word, and away
went the young man and the princess; and the fox came and
said to him, "We will have all three, the princess, the horse,
and the bird." "Ah!" said the young man, "that would be a
great thing, but how can you contrive it?"
If you will only listen," said the fox, "it can soon be done.
When you come to the king, and he asks for the beautiful
princess, you must say, 'Here she is.' Then he will be very
joyful; and you will mount the golden horse that they are to
give you, and put out your hand to take leave of them; but
shake hands with the princess last. Then lift her quickly on
to the horse behind you; clap your spurs to his side, and
gallop away as fast as you can."
All went right: then the fox said, When you come to the
castle where the bird is, I will stay with the princess at the
door, and you will ride in and speak to the king; and when he
sees that it is the right horse, he will bring out the bird; but
you must sit still, and say that you want to look at it, to see
whether it is the true golden bird; and when you get it into
your hand, ride away."
This, too, happened as the fox said; they carried off the
bird, the princess mounted again, and they rode on to a great
wood. Then the fox came, and said, "Pray kill me, and cut
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The Golden Bird
off my head and my feet." But the young man refused to do
it: so the fox said, I will at any rate give you good counsel:
beware of two things; ransom no one from the gallows, and
sit down by the side of no river." Then away he went.
"Well," thought the young man, "it is no hard matter to
keep that advice."
He rode on with the princess, till at last he came to the
village where he had left his two brothers. And there he
heard a great noise and uproar; and when he asked what was
the matter, the people said, "Two men are going to be hanged."
As he came nearer, he saw that the two men were his brothers,
who had turned robbers; so he said, Cannot they in any way
be saved?" But the people said "No," unless he would be-
stow all his money upon the rascals and buy their liberty.
Then he did not stay to think about the matter, but paid what
was asked, and his brothers were given up, and went on with
him towards their home.
And as they came to the wood where the fox first met
them, it was so cool and pleasant that the two brothers said,
"Let us sit down by the side of the river, and rest awhile, to
eat and drink." "Very well," said he, and forgot the fox's
counsel, and sat down on the side of the river; and while he
suspected nothing, they came behind, and threw him down
the bank, and took the princess, the horse, and the bird, and
went home to the king their master, and said, All this have
we won by our exertions.'' Then there was great rejoicing
made; but the horse would not eat, the bird would not sing,
and the princess wept.
The youngest son fell to the bottom of the river's bed:
luckily it was nearly dry, but his bones were almost broken,
and the bank was so steep that he could find no way to get
out. Then the old fox came once more, and scolded him for
not following his advice; otherwise no evil would have befallen
him: Yet," said he, I cannot leave you here, so lay hold of
my tail and hold fast." Then he pulled him out of the river,
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and said to him, as he got upon the bank, "Your brothers
have set watch to kill you, if they find you in the kingdom."
So he dressed himself as a poor man, and came secretly to the
king's court, and was scarcely within the doors when the horse
began to eat, and the bird to sing, and the princess left off
weeping. He went straight to the king, and told him all his
brothers' roguery; and they were seized and punished, and he
had the princess given to him again; and after the king's
death he was heir to his kingdom.
A long while after, he went to walk one day in the wood,
and the old fox met him, and besought him with tears in his
eyes to kill him, and cut off his head and feet. And at last
he did so, and in a moment the fox was changed into a man,
and turned out to be the brother of the princess, who had
been lost a great many many years.
The Dog and the Sparrow
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The Dog and the Sparrow
A SHEPHERD'S dog had a master who took no care of him,
but often let him suffer the greatest hunger. At last he could
bear it no longer; so he took to his heels, and off he ran in
a very sad and sorrowful mood. On the road he met a
sparrow, that said to him, Why are you so sad, my friend?"
" Because," said the dog, I am very very hungry, and have
nothing to eat." If that be all," answered the sparrow,
" come with me into the next town, and I will soon find you
plenty of food."
So on they went together into the town: and as they
passed by a butcher's shop, the sparrow said to the dog,
" Stand there a little while, till I peck you down a piece of
meat." So the sparrow perched upon the shelf: and having
first looked carefully about her to see if anyone was watching
her, she pecked and scratched at a steak that lay upon the
edge of the shelf, till at last down it fell. Then the dog
snapped it up, and scrambled away with it into a corner,
where he soon ate it all up.
"Well," said the sparrow, "you shall have some more if
you will; so come with me to the next shop, and I will peck
you down another steak." When the dog had eaten this too,
the sparrow said to him, Well, my good friend, have you had
enough now?" I have had plenty of meat," answered he,
"but I should like to have a piece of bread to eat after it."
" Come with me then," said the sparrow, and you shall soon
have that too." So she took him to a baker's shop, and
pecked at two rolls that lay in the window, till they fell
down: and as the dog still wished for more, she took him
to another shop and pecked down some more for him.
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When that was eaten, the sparrow asked him whether he
had had enough now. "Yes," said he; "and now let us take
a walk a little way out of the town." So they both went out
upon the high-road: but as the weather was warm, they had
not gone far before the dog said, I am very much tired, I
should like to take a nap." "Very well," answered the
sparrow, "do so, and in the meantime I will perch upon
that bush."
So the dog stretched himself out on the road, and fell fast
asleep. Whilst he slept, there came by a carter with a cart
drawn by three horses, and loaded with two casks of wine.
The sparrow, seeing that the carter did not turn out of the
way, but would go on in the track in which the dog lay, so
as to drive over him, called out, "Stop! stop! Mr. Carter, or
it shall be the worse for you." But the carter, grumbling to
himself, "You make it the worse for me, indeed! what can
you do?" cracked his whip, and drove his cart over the poor
dog, so that the wheels crushed him to death.
"There," cried the sparrow, "you cruel villain, you have
killed my friend the dog. Now mind what I say. This deed
of yours shall cost you all you are worth." "Do your worst,
and welcome," said the brute, "what harm can you do me?"
and passed on.
But the sparrow crept under the tilt of the cart, and
pecked at the bung of one of the casks till she loosened it;
and then all the wine ran out, without the carter seeing it.
At last he looked round, and saw that the cart was dripping,
and the cask quite empty. "What an unlucky wretch I am!"
cried he. "Not wretch enough yet!" said the sparrow, as she
alighted upon the head of one of the horses, and pecked at
him till he reared up and kicked.
When the carter saw this, he drew out his hatchet and
aimed a blow at the sparrow, meaning to kill her; but she
flew away, and the blow fell upon the poor horse's head with
such force, that he fell down dead. I Unlucky wretch that
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I am!" cried he. "Not wretch enough yet!" said the sparrow.
And as the carter went on with the other two horses, she
again crept under the tilt of the cart, and pecked out the
bung of the second cask, so that all the wine ran out. When
the carter saw this, he again cried out, Miserable wretch that
I am!" But the sparrow answered, "Not wretch enough
yet!" and perched on the head of the second horse, and
pecked at him too. The carter ran up and struck at her
again with his hatchet; but away she flew, and the blow
fell upon the second horse and killed him on the spot. "Un-
lucky wretch that I am!" said he. "Not wretch enough yet!"
said the sparrow: and perching upon the third horse, she
began to peck him too. The carrier was mad with fury; and
without looking about him, or caring what he was about,
struck again at the sparrow; but killed his third horse as
he had done the other two. "Alas! miserable wretch that
I am!" cried he. "Not wretch enough yet!" answered the
sparrow as she flew away; "now will I plague and punish
you at your own house."
The carter was forced at last to leave his cart behind him,
and to go home overflowing with rage and vexation. "Alas!"
said he to his wife, "what ill-luck has befallen me!-my wine
is all spilt, and my horses all three dead." "Alas! husband,"
replied she, and a wicked bird has come into the house, and
has brought with her all the birds in the world, I am sure,
and they have fallen upon our corn in the loft, and are eating
it up at such a rate!" Away ran the husband upstairs, and
saw thousands of birds sitting upon the floor eating up his
corn, with the sparrow in the midst of them. "Unlucky
wretch that I am!" cried the carter; for he saw that the corn
was almost all gone. "Not wretch enough yet!" said the
sparrow; "your cruelty shall cost you your life yet!" and away
she flew.
The carter, seeing that he had thus lost all that he had,
went down into his kitchen; and was still not sorry for what
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The Dog and the Sparrow
he had done, but sat himself angrily and sulkily in the
chimney-corer. But the sparrow sat on the outside of the
window, and cried, "Carter! your cruelty shall cost you your
life!" With that he jumped up in a rage, seized his hatchet,
and threw it at the sparrow; but it missed her, and only broke
the window. The sparrow now hopped in, perched upon the
window-seat, and cried, "Carter! it shall cost you your life!"
Then he became mad and blind with rage, and struck the
window-seat with such force that he cleft it in two: and as
the sparrow flew from place to place, the carter and his wife
were so furious, that they broke all their furniture, glasses,
chairs, benches, the table, and at last the walls, without
touching the bird at all. In the end, however, they caught
her: and the wife said, "Shall I kill her at once?" "No,"
cried he, "that is letting her off too easily: she shall die
a much more cruel death; I will eat her." But the sparrow
began to flutter about, and stretched out her neck and cried,
"Carter! it shall cost you your life yet!" With that he
could wait no longer; so he gave his wife the hatchet, and
cried, "Wife, strike at the bird and kill her in my hand."
And the wife struck: but she missed her aim, and hit her
husband on the head so that he fell down dead, and the
sparrow flew quietly home to her nest.
The Turnip
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The Turnip
THERE were two brothers who were both soldiers; the one
was rich and the other poor. The poor man thought he
would try to better himself; so, pulling off his red coat,
he became a gardener, and dug his ground well, and sowed
turnips.
When the seed came up, there was one plant bigger than
all the rest; and it kept getting larger and larger, and seemed
as if it would never cease growing; so that it might have
been called the prince of turnips; for there never was such
a one seen before, and never will again. At last it was so
big that it filled a cart, and two oxen could hardly draw it;
and the gardener knew not what in the world to do with it,
nor whether it would be a blessing or a curse to him. One
day he said to himself, What shall I do with it? if I sell it,
it will bring no more than another; and for eating, the little
turnips are better than this; the best thing perhaps is to carry
it and give it to the king as a mark of respect."
Then he yoked his oxen, and drew the turnip to the Palace,
and gave it to the king. What a wonderful thing!" said the
king; I have seen many strange things, but such a monster
as this I never saw. Where did you get the seed? or is it
only your good luck? If so, you are a true child of fortune."
"Ah, no!" answered the gardener; I am no child of fortune;
I am a poor soldier, who never could get enough to live
upon; so I laid aside my red coat, and set to work, tilling
the ground. I have a brother, who is rich, and your Majesty
knows him well, and all the world knows him; but because
I am poor, everybody forgets me."
The king then took pity on him, and said, You shall be
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The Turnip
poor no longer, I will give you so much that you shall be even
richer than your brother." Then he gave him gold and lands
and flocks, and made him so rich that his brother's fortune
could not at all be compared with his.
When the brother heard of all this, and how a turnip had
made the gardener so rich, he envied him sorely, and be-
thought himself how he could contrive to get the same good
fortune for himself. However, he determined to manage
more cleverly than his brother, and got together a rich pre-
sent of gold and fine horses for the king; and thought he
must have a much larger gift in return; for if his brother had
received so much for only a turnip, what must his present be
worth?
The king took the gift very graciously, and said he knew
not what to give in return more valuable and wonderful than
the great turnip; so the soldier was forced to put it into a
cart, and drag it home with him. When he reached home,
he knew not upon whom to vent his rage and spite; and at
length wicked thoughts came into his head and he resolved
to kill his brother.
So he hired some villains to murder him; and having
shown them where to lie in ambush, he went to his brother
and said, "Dear brother, I have found a hidden treasure; let
us go and dig it up, and share it between us." The other had
no suspicion of his roguery: so they went out together, and
as they were travelling along, the murderers rushed out upon
him, bound him, and were going to hang him on a tree.
But whilst they were getting all ready, they heard the
trampling of a horse at a distance, which so frightened them
that they pushed their prisoner neck and shoulders together
into a sack, and swung him up by a cord to the tree, where
they left him dangling, and ran away. Meantime he worked
and worked away, till he made a hole large enough to put out
his head.
When the horseman came up, he proved to be a student,
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a merry fellow, who was journeying along on his nag, and
singing as he went. As soon as the man in the sack'saw
him passing under the tree, he cried out, "Good-morning!
good-morning to you, my friend!" The student looked
about everywhere; and seeing no one, and not knowing
where the voice came from, cried out, "Who calls me?"
Then the man in the tree answered, "Lift up your eyes,
for behold here I sit in the sack of wisdom; here have I, in
a short time, learned great and wondrous things. Compared
with this seat, all the learning of the schools is as empty air.
A little longer, and I shall know all that man can know, and
shall come forth wiser than the wisest of mankind. Here
I discern the signs and motions of the heavens and the stars;
the laws that control the winds; the number of the sands
on the sea-shore; the healing of the sick; the virtue of all
simples, of birds, and. of precious stones. Were you but
once here, my friend, you would feel and own the power of
knowledge."
The student listened to all this and wondered much; at
last he said, Blessed be the day and hour when I found you;
cannot you contrive to let me into the sack for a little while?"
Then the other answered, as if very unwilling, "A little space
I may allow you to sit here, if you will reward me well and
entreat me kindly; but you must tarry yet an hour below,
till I have learnt some little matters that are yet unknown to
me."
So the student sat himself down and waited awhile; but
the time hung heavy upon him, and he begged earnestly that
he might ascend forthwith, for his thirst of knowledge was
great. Then the other pretended to give way, and said,
"You must let the sack of wisdom descend, by untying
yonder cord, and then you shall enter." So the student let
him down, opened the sack, and set him free. "Now then,"
cried he, "let me ascend quickly." As he began to put him-
pelf into the sack heels first, Wait awhile," said the gardener,
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"The student listened and wondered much"
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"that is not the way." Then he pushed him in head first,
tied up the sack, and soon swung up the searcher after wisdom
dangling in the air. "How is it with you, friend?" said he;
"do you not feel that wisdom comes unto you? Rest there
in peace, till you are a wiser man than you were."
So saying, he trotted off on the student's nag, and left
the poor fellow to gather wisdom till somebody should come
and let him down.
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Cherry and the Three Princes
Cherry, or the Frog-bride
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Cherry, or the Frog-Bride
THERE was once a king who had three sons. Not far from
his kingdom lived an old woman who had an only daughter
called Cherryblossom. The king sent his sons out to see the
world, that they might learn the ways of foreign lands, and
get wisdom and skill in ruling the kingdom they were one
day to have for their own. But the old woman lived at peace
at home with her daughter, who was called Cherryblossom
because she liked cherries better than any other kind of food,
and would eat scarcely anything else. Now her poor old
mother had no garden, and no money to buy cherries every
day for her daughter; and at last there was no other plan left
but to go to a neighboring garden and beg of the maids the
finest she could get; for she dared not let her daughter go
out by herself, as she was very pretty, and she feared some
mischance might befall her. Cherryblossom's taste was, how-
ever, very well known. It happened also that the lady who
owned the garden was as fond of cherries as she was, and she
was very angry at missing some of her best fruit and finding
whither it had gone.
The princes, while wandering on, came one day to the town
where Cherryblossom and her mother lived; and as they
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passed along the street they saw the fair maiden standing
at the window, combing her long and beautiful locks of hair.
Then each of the three fell deeply in love with her, and began
to say how much he longed to have her for his wife. Scarcely
had the wish been spoken, when all drew their swords, and
a dreadful battle began. The fight lasted long, and their
rage grew hotter and hotter, when at last the rich lady,
hearing the uproar, came to her gate. Finding that her
neighbour was the cause, her old spite against her broke
forth at once, and in her rage she wished Cherryblossom
turned into an ugly frog, and sitting in the water under the
bridge at the world's end. No sooner said than done; and
poor Cherryblossom became a frog, and vanished out of their
sight. The princes had now nothing to fight for; so sheath-
ing their swords again, they shook hands as brothers, and
went on towards their father's home.
The old king meanwhile found that he grew weak and ill
fitted for the business of reigning, so he thought of giving his
crown to one of his sons; but to which should it be? This
was a point that his fatherly heart could not settle; for he
loved all his sons alike.
"My dear children," said he, "I grow old and weak, and
should like one of you to take my place; but I cannot make
up my mind which of you to choose for my heir, for I love
you all three; and besides, I should wish to give my people
the cleverest and best of you for their king. However, I will
give you three trials, and the one who wins the prize shall
have the kingdom. The first is to seek me out one hun-
dred ells of cloth, so fine that I can draw it through my
golden ring."
The sons said they would do their best, and set out on the
search.
The two eldest brothers took with them many followers
and coaches and horses of all sorts, to bring home all the
beautiful cloths which they could find; but the youngest went
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"She liked cherries better than any other food"
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alone by: himself. They soon came to where the roads
branched off into several ways; two ran through smiling
meadows, with smooth paths and shady groves, but the third
looked dreary and dirty, and went over barren wastes. The
two eldest chose the pleasant ways; and the youngest took
his leave and whistled along over the dreary road. When-
ever fine linen was to be seen, the two elder brothers bought
it, and bought so much that their coaches and horses bent
under their burthens. The youngest, on the other hand,
journeyed on many a weary day, and found not a place where
he could buy even one piece of cloth that was at all fine and
good. His heart sank within him, and every mile he grew
more and more heavy and sorrowful. At last he came. to
a bridge over a stream, and there he sat himself down to
rest and sigh over his bad luck, when an ugly-looking frog
popped its head out of the water, and asked, with a voice
that had not at all a harsh sound to his ears, what was the
matter.
"Silly frog! you cannot help me," said the prince in a
pet.
"Who told you so?" said the frog; "tell me what ails
you."
After a while the prince told the whole story, and ex-
plained why his father had sent him out.
"I will help you," said the frog; so it jumped into the
stream, and soon came back dragging a small piece of linen
not bigger than one's hand, and by no means the cleanest in
the world. However, there it was, and the prince was told to
take it away with him. He had no great liking for such a
dirty rag; but still there was something in the frog's speech
that pleased him much, and he thought to himself: It can
do no harm, it is better than nothing." So he picked it up,
put it in his pocket, and thanked the frog, who dived down
again, panting and quite tired, as it seemed, with its work.
The farther he went the heavier, to his great joy, he found
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The Frog and the Prince
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Cherry, or the Frog-Bride
the pocket grow, and so he turned himself homewards, trust-
ing greatly to his good luck.
He reached home about the same time as his brothers, who
came up with their horses and coaches all heavily laden.
Then the old king was very glad to see his children again,
and pulled the ring off his finger to try who had done the
best; but in all the stock which the two eldest had brought
there was not one piece a tenth part of which would go
through the ring. At this they were greatly abashed; for
they had made a laugh of their brother, who came home,
as they thought, empty-handed. But how great was their
anger, when they saw him pull from his pocket a piece that
for softness, beauty, and whiteness was a thousand times
better than anything that was ever before seen! It was so
fine that it passed with ease through the ring; indeed, two
such pieces would readily have gone through together.
The father embraced the lucky youth, told his servants to
throw the coarse linen into the sea, and said to his children:
"Now you must try the second task which I am to set you.
Bring me home a little dog, so small that it will lie in a
nut-shell."
His sons were not a little frightened at such a task; but
they all longed for the crown, and made up their minds to go
and try what they could do. And so after a few days they
set out once more on their travels. At the cross-ways they
parted as before, and the youngest chose his old, dreary,
rugged road with all the bright hopes that his former good
luck gave him.
Scarcely had he sat himself down again at the bridge foot,
when his old friend the frog jumped out, set itself beside him,
and as before opened its big, wide mouth, and croaked out:
"What is the matter?"
The prince had this time no doubt of the frog's power, and
therefore told what he wanted.
"It shall be done for you," said the frog; and springing
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into the stream it soon brought up a hazel-nut, laid it at his
feet, and told him to take it home to his father, and crack it
gently, and then see what would happen.
The prince went his way very well pleased, and the frog,
tired with its task, jumped back into the water.
His brothers had reached home first, and brought with
them a great many pretty little dogs. The old king, willing
to help them all he could, sent for a large walnut-shell and
tried it with every one of the little dogs; but one stuck fast
with the hind-foot out, and another with the head, and a third
with the fore-foot, and a fourth with its tail-in short, some
one way and some another; but none were at all likely to sit
easily in this new kind of kennel. When all had been tried,
the youngest made his father a dutiful bow, and gave him the
hazel-nut, begging him to crack it very carefully. The
moment this was done out ran a beautiful little white dog
upon the king's hand, wagged its tail, fondled its new
master, and soon turned about and barked at the other little
beasts in the most graceful manner, to the delight of the
whole court.
The joy of everyone was great, and the old king again
embraced his lucky son, told his people to drown all the other
dogs in the sea, and said to his children: "Dear sons! your
weightiest tasks are now over; listen to my last wish. Who-
ever brings home the fairest lady shall be at once the heir
to my crown."
The prize was so tempting, and the chance so fair for all,
that none made any doubts about setting to work, each in his
own way, to try and be the winner. The youngest was not
in such good spirits as he was the last time. He thought to
himself: "The old frog has been able to do a great deal for
me; but all its power must be nothing to me now, for where
should it find me a fair maiden, still less a fairer maiden than
was ever seen at my father's court? The swamps where it
lives have no living things in them but toads, snakes, and
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The Little Dogs and the Walnut Shell
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Cherry, or the Frog-Bride
such vermin." Meantime he went on, and sighed as he sat
down again with a heavy heart by the bridge.
"Ah, frog!" said he, "this time you can do me no good."
Never mind," croaked the frog; "only tell me what is the
matter now."
Then the prince told his old friend what trouble had now
come upon him.
"Go your ways home," said the frog; "the fair maiden
will follow hard after; but take care and do not laugh at
whatever may happen!" This said, it sprang as before into
the water and was soon out of sight.
The prince still sighed on, for he trusted very little this
time to the frog's word; but he had not made many steps
towards home before he heard a noise behind him, and look-
ing'round, saw seven large water rats dragging along a large
pumpkin like a coach, full trot. On the box sat an old fat
toad as coachman, and behind stood two little frogs as foot-
men, and two fine mice with stately whiskers ran before as
outriders; within sat his old friend the frog, rather misshapen
and unseemly to be sure, but still with somewhat of a graceful
air as it bowed to him in passing.
Much too deeply wrapt in thought as to his chance of
finding the fair lady whom he was seeking, to take any heed
of the strange scene before him, the prince scarcely looked at
it, and had still less mind to laugh. The coach passed on
a little way, and soon turned a corner that hid it from his
sight; but how astonished was he, on turning the corner him-
self, to find a handsome coach and six black horses standing
there, with a coachman in gay livery, and within, the most
beautiful lady he had ever seen! This lady he soon knew to
be the fair Cherryblossom, for whom his heart had so long
ago panted. As he came up, the servants opened the coach
door, and he was allowed to seat himself by the beautiful
lady.
They soon came to his father's city. His brothers had
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already arrived, with trains of fair ladies; but as soon as
Cherryblossom was seen, all the court, with one voice, gave
her the crown of beauty. The delighted father embraced his
son, and named him the heir to his crown, and ordered all the
other ladies to be thrown, like the little dogs, into the sea
and drowned. Then the prince married Cherryblossom, and
lived long and happily with her, and indeed lives with her
still-if he be not dead.
The Lady and the Lion
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The Lady and the LIion
A MERCHANT, who had three daughters, was once setting
out upon a journey; but before he went he asked each
daughter what gift he should bring back for her. The eldest
wished for pearls; the second for jewels; but the third said,
"Dear father, bring me a rose." Now it was no easy task
to find a rose, for it was the middle of winter; yet, as she
was the fairest daughter, and was very fond of flowers, her
father said he would try what he could do. So he kissed
all three and bid them good-bye. And when the time came
for his return, he had bought pearls and jewels for the two
eldest, but he had sought everywhere in vain for the rose;
and when he went into any garden and enquired for such
a thing, the people laughed at him, and asked him whether
he thought roses grew in snow. This grieved him very
much, for his third daughter was his dearest child; and as
he was journeying home, thinking what he should bring
her, he came to a fine castle; and around the castle was
a garden, in half of which it appeared to be summer-time,
and in the other half winter. On one side the finest flowers
were in full bloom, and on the other everything looked
desolate and buried in snow. "A lucky hit!" said he as
he called to his servant, and told him to go to a beautiful
bed of roses that was there, and bring him away one of the
flowers. This done, they were riding away well pleased,
when a fierce lion sprang up, and roared, "Whoever dares
to steal my roses shall be eaten up alive." Then the man
said, "I knew not that the garden belonged to you; can
nothing save my life?" "No!" said the lion, "nothing, unless
you promise to give me whatever meets you first on your
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return home; if you agree to this, I will give you your life,
and the rose too for your daughter." But the man was
unwilling to do so, and said, "It may be my youngest
daughter, who loves me most, and always runs to meet
me when I go home." Then the servant was greatly
frightened, and said, It may perhaps be only a cat or a
dog." And at last the man yielded with a heavy heart,
and tbok the rose; and promised the lion whatever should
meet him first on his return.
And as he came near home, it was his youngest and
dearest daughter that met him; she came running and kissed
him, and welcomed him home; and when she saw that he
had brought her the rose, she rejoiced still more. But her
father began to be very melancholy, and to weep, saying,
"Alas! my dearest child! I have bought this flower dear,
for I have promised to give you to a wild lion, and when
he has you, he will tear you in pieces, and eat you." And
he told her all that had happened; and said she should
not go, let what would happen.
But she comforted him, and said, "Dear father, what
you have promised must be fulfilled; I will go to the lion,
and soothe him, that he may let me return again safe home."
The next morning she asked the way she was to go,
and took leave of her father, and went forth with a bold
heart into the wood. But the lion was an enchanted prince,
and by day he and all his court were lions, but in the evening
they took their proper forms again. And when the lady
came to the castle, he welcomed her so courteously that she
consented to marry him. The wedding-feast was held, and
they lived happily together a long time. The prince was
only to be seen as soon as evening came, and then he held
his court; but every morning he left his bride, and went
away by himself, she knew not whither, till night came again.
After some time he said to her, "To-morrow there will
be a great feast in your father's house, for your eldest sister
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The Lady and the Lion
is to be married; and, if you wish to go to visit her, my
lions shall lead you thither." Then she rejoiced much at
the thoughts of seeing her father once more, and set out
with the lions; and everyone was overjoyed to see her,
for they had thought her dead long since. But she told
them how happy she was; and stayed till the feast was
over, and then went back to the wood.
Her second sister was soon after married; and when
she was invited to the wedding, she said to the prince, "I
will not go alone this time; you must go with me." But
he would not, and said that would be a very hazardous
thing, for if the least ray of the torchlight should fall upon
him, his enchantment would become still worse, for he should
be changed into a dove, and be obliged to wander about
the world for seven long years. However, she gave him
no rest, and said she would take care no light should fall
upon him. So at last they set out together, and took with
them their little child too; and she chose a large hall with
thick walls, for him to sit in while the wedding torches
were lighted; but unluckily no one observed that there
was a crack in the door. Then the wedding was held with
great pomp; but as the train came from the church, and
passed with the torches before the hall, a very small ray
of light fell upon the prince. In a moment he disappeared;
and when his wife came in, and sought him, she found only
a white dove. Then he said to her, "Seven years must
I fly up and down over the face of the earth; but every
now and then I will let fall a white feather, that shall
show you the way I am going; follow it, and at last you
may overtake and set me free."
This said, he flew out at the door, and she followed;
and every now and then a white feather fell, and showed
her the way she was to journey. Thus she went roving
on through the wide world, and looked neither to the right
hand nor to the left, nor took any rest for seven years. Then
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she began to rejoice, and thought to herself that the time
was fast coming when all her troubles should cease; yet
repose was still far off; for one day as she was travelling
on, she missed the white feather, and when she lifted up
her eyes she could nowhere see the dove. "Now," thought
she to herself, "no human aid can be of use to me;" so she
went to the sun, and said, "Thou shinest everywhere, on
the mountain's top, and the valley's depth: hast thou any-
where seen a white dove?" No," said the sun, "I have
not seen it; but I will give thee a casket-open it when
thy hour of need comes."
So she thanked the sun, and went on her way till even-
tide; and when the moon arose, she cried unto it, and said,
"Thou shinest through all the night, over field and grove:
hast thou nowhere seen a white dove?" "No," said the moon,
"I cannot help thee; but I will give thee an egg-break
it when need comes." Then she thanked the moon, and
went on till the night wind blew; and she raised up her
voice to it, and said, "Thou blowest through every tree
and under every leaf: hast thou not seen the white dove?"
" No," said the night wind; but I will ask three other winds;
perhaps they have seen it." Then the east wind and the
west wind came, and said they too had not seen it; but
the south wind said, "I have seen the white dove; he has
fled to the Red Sea, and is changed once more into a lion,
for the seven years are passed away; and there he is fighting
with a dragon, and the dragon is an enchanted princess, who
seeks to separate him from you." Then the night wind said,
"I will give thee counsel: go to the Red Sea; on the
right shore stand many rods; number them, and when thou
comest to the eleventh, break it off and smite the dragon
with it; and so the lion will have the victory, and both of
them will appear to you in their human forms. Then
instantly set out with thy beloved prince, and journey home
over sea and land."
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The Lady asks the Winds to help her
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So our poor wanderer went forth, and found all as the
night wind had said; and she plucked the eleventh rod, and
smote the dragon, and immediately the lion became a prince
and the dragon a princess again. But she forgot the counsel
which the hight wind had given; and the false princess watched
her opportunity, and took the prince by the arm, and carried
him away.
Thus the unfortunate traveller was again forsaken and
forlorn; but she took courage and said, "As far as the
wind blows, and so long as the cock crows, I will journey
on till I find him once again." She went on for a long
long way, till at length she came to the castle whither the
princess had carried the prince; and there was a feast
prepared, and she heard that the wedding was about to
be held. "Heaven aid me now!" said she; and she took
the casket that the sun had given her, and found that within
it lay a dress as dazzling as the sun itself. So she put it
on, and went into the palace; and all the people gazed
upon her; and the dress pleased the bride so much that
she asked whether it was to be sold: "Not for gold and
silver," answered she: "but for flesh and blood." The princess
asked what she meant; and she said, "Let me speak with
the bridegroom this night in his chamber, and I will give
thee the dress." At last the princess agreed; but she told
her chamberlain to give the prince a sleeping-draught, that
he might not hear or see her. When evening came, and
the prince had fallen asleep, she was led into his chamber,
and she sat herself down at his feet and said, "I have
followed thee seven years; I have been to the sun, the
moon, and the night wind to seek thee; and at last I have
helped thee to overcome the dragon. Wilt thou then forget
me quite?" But the prince slept so soundly that her voice
only passed over him, and seemed like the murmuring of
the wind among the fir-trees.
Then she was led away, and forced to give up the golden
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The Lady and the Lion
dress; and when she saw that there was no help for her,
she went out into a meadow and sat herself down and wept.
But as she sat she bethought herself of the egg that the
moon had given her; and when she broke it, there ran out
a hen and twelve chickens of pure gold, that played about,
and then nestled under the old one's wings, so as to form
the most beautiful sight in the world. And she rose up,
and drove them before her till the bride saw them from
her window, and was so pleased that she came forth, and
asked her if she would sell the brood. "Not for gold or
silver; but for flesh and blood: let me again this evening
speak with the bridegroom in his chamber."
Then the princess thought to betray her as before, and
agreed to what she asked; but when the prince went to
his chamber, he asked the chamberlain why the wind had
murmured so in the night. And the chamberlain told him
all; how he had given him a sleeping-draught, and a poor
maiden had come and spoken to him in his chamber, and
was to come again that night. Then the prince took care
to throw away the sleeping-draught; and when she came
and began again to tell him what woes had befallen her,
and how faithful and true to him she had been, he knew
his beloved wife's voice, and sprang up, and said, "You
have awakened me as from a dream; for the strange princess
had thrown a spell around me, so that I had altogether for-
gotten you: but heaven hath sent you to me in a lucky hour."
And they stole away out of the palace by night secretly
(for they feared the princess), and journeyed home; and
there they found their child, now grown comely and fair,
and lived happily together to the end of their days.
Ill
The Twelve Dancing Princesses
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The Twelve Dancing Princesses
THERE was a king who had twelve beautiful daughters. They
slept in twelve beds all in one room; and when they went
to bed, the doors were shut and locked up; but every morn-
ing their shoes were found to be quite worn through, as if
they had been danced in all night; and yet nobody could
find out how it happened, or where they had been.
Then the king made it known to all the land, that if any
person could discover the secret, and find out where it was
that the princesses danced in the night, he should have the
one he liked best for his wife, and should be king after his
death; but whoever tried and did not succeed, after three
days and nights, should be put to death.
A king's son soon came. He was well entertained, and
in the evening was taken to the chamber next to the one
where the princesses lay in their twelve beds. There he was
to sit and watch where they went to dance; and, in order
that nothing might pass without his hearing it, the door of
his chamber was left open. But the king's son soon fell
asleep; and when he awoke in the morning he found that the
princesses had all been dancing, for the soles of their shoes
were full of holes. The same thing happened the second and
third night; so the king ordered his head to be cut off. After
him came several others; but they had all the same luck,
and all lost their lives in the same manner.
Now it chanced that an old soldier, who had been
wounded in battle, and could fight no longer, passed through
the country where this king reigned: and as he was travelling
through a wood, he met an old woman, who asked him where
he was going. I hardly know where I am going, or what I
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The Twelve Dancing Princesses
had better do," said the soldier; "but I think I should like
very well to find out where it is that the princesses dance, and
then in time I might be a king." "Well," said the old dame,
"that is no very hard task; only take care not to drink any of
the wine which one of the princesses will bring to you in the
evening; and as soon as she leaves you pretend to be fast
asleep."
Then she gave him a cloak, and said, "As soon as you
put that on you will become invisible, and you will then be
able to follow the princesses wherever they go." When the
soldier heard all this good counsel, he determined to try his
luck: so he went to the king, and said he was willing to under-
take the task.
He was as well received as the others had been, and the
king ordered fine royal robes to be given him; and when the
evening came he was led to the outer chamber. Just as he
was going to lie down, the eldest of the princesses brought
him a cup of wine; but the soldier threw it all away secretly,
taking care not to drink a drop. Then he laid himself down
on his bed, and in a little while began to snore very loud as if
he was fast asleep. When the twelve princesses heard this
they laughed heartily; and the eldest said, "This fellow too
might have done a wiser thing than lose his life in this way!"
Then they rose up and opened their drawers and boxes, and
took out all their fine clothes, and dressed themselves at the
glass, and skipped about as if they were eager to begin
dancing.
But the youngest said, I don't know how it is, while you
are so happy I feel very uneasy; I am sure some mischance
will befall us."
"You simpleton," said the eldest, "you are always afraid;
have you forgotten how many kings' sons have already
watched us in vain? And as for this soldier, even if I had
not given him his sleeping draught, he would have slept
soundly enough."
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Grimm's Fairy Tales
When they were all ready, they went and looked at the
soldier; but he snored on, and did not stir hand or foot: so
they thought they were quite safe; and the eldest went up to
her own bed and clapped her hands, and the bed sunk into
the floor and a trap-door flew open. The soldier saw them
going down through the trap-door one after another, the
eldest leading the way; and thinking he had no time to lose,
he jumped up, put on the cloak which the old woman had
given him, and followed them; but in the middle of the stairs
he trod on the gown of the youngest princess, and she cried
out to her sisters, All is not right; someone took hold of my
gown." "You silly creature!" said the eldest, "it is nothing
but a nail in the wall." Then down they all went, and at the
bottom they found themselves in a most delightful grove of
trees; and the leaves were all of silver, and glittered and
sparkled beautifully. The soldier wished to take away some
token of the place; so he broke off a little branch, and there
came a loud noise from the tree. Then the youngest daughter
said again, I am sure all is not right-did not you hear that
noise? That never happened before." But the eldest said,
"It is only our princes, who are shouting for joy at our
approach."
Then they came to another grove of trees, where all the
leaves were of gold; and afterwards to a third, where the
leaves were all glittering diamonds. And the soldier broke
a branch from each; and every time there was a loud noise,
which made the youngest sister tremble with fear, but the
eldest still said, it was only the princes, who were crying for
joy. So they went on till they came to a great lake; and at
the side of the lake there lay twelve little boats with twelve
handsome princes in them, who seemed to be waiting there
for the princesses.
One of the princesses went into each boat, and the soldier
stepped into the same boat with the youngest. As they were
rowing over the lake, the prince who was in the boat with the
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The Twelve Dancing Princesses
youngest princess and the soldier said, I do not know why it
is, but though I am rowing with all my might we do not get
on so fast as usual, and I am quite tired: the boat seems very
heavy to-day." It is only the heat of the weather," said the
princess; I feel it very warm too."
On the other side of the lake stood a fine illuminated
castle, from which came the merry music of horns and
trumpets. There they all landed, and went into the castle,
and each prince danced with his princess; and the soldier,
who was all the time invisible, danced with them too; and
when any of the princesses had a cup of wine set by her, he
drank it all up, so that when she put the cup to her mouth it
was empty. At this, too, the youngest sister was terribly
frightened, but the eldest always silenced her. They danced
on till three o'clock in the morning, and then all their shoes
were worn out, so that they were obliged to leave off. The
princes rowed them back again over the lake (but this time
the soldier placed himself in the boat with the eldest princess);
and on the opposite shore they took leave of each other, the
princesses promising to come again the next night.
When they came to the stairs, the soldier ran on before
the princesses, and laid himself down; and as the twelve
sisters slowly came up very much tired, they heard him snor-
ing in his bed; so they said, "Now all is quite safe;" then
they undressed themselves, put away their fine clothes, pulled
off their shoes, and went to bed. In the morning the soldier
said nothing about what had happened, but determined to see
more of this strange adventure, and went again the second
and third night; and everything happened just as before; the
princesses danced each time till their shoes were worn to
pieces, and then returned home. However, on the third night
the soldier carried away one of the golden cups as a token of
where he had been.
As soon as the time came when he was to declare the
secret, he was taken before the king carrying with him the
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three branches and the golden cup; and the twelve princesses
stood listening behind the door to hear what he would say.
And when the king asked him, "Where do my twelve
daughters dance at night?" he answered, "With twelve
princes in a castle underground." And then he told the king
all that happened, and showed him the three branches and
the golden cup which he had brought with him. Then the
king called for the princesses, and asked them whether what
the soldier said was true: and when they saw that they were
discovered, and that it was of no use to. deny what had
happened, they confessed it all. And the king asked the
soldier which of them he would choose for his wife; and he
answered, "I am not very young, so I will have the eldest."
And they were married that very day, and the soldier was
chosen to be the king's heir.
The King of the Golden Mountain
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The King of the Golden Mountain
A CERTAIN merchant had two children, a son and daughter,
both very young, and scarcely able to run alone. He had
two richly-laden ships then making a voyage upon the seas,
in which he had embarked all his property, in the hope of
making great gains, when the news came that they were lost.
Thus from being a rich man he became very poor, so that
nothing was left him but one small plot of land; and, to
relieve his mind a little of his trouble, he often went out to
walk there.
One day, as he was roving along, a little rough-looking
dwarf stood before him, and asked him why he was so sorrow-
ful, and what it was that he took so deeply to heart. But the
merchant replied, "If you could do me any good, I would tell
you." "Who knows but I may?" said the little man; "tell
me what is the matter, and perhaps I can be of some service."
Then the merchant told him how all his wealth had gone to
the bottom of the sea, and how he had nothing left except
that little plot of land. "Oh! trouble not yourself about
that," said the dwarf; "only promise to bring me here, twelve
years hence, whatever meets you first on your return home,
and I will give you as much gold as you please." The
merchant thought this was no great request; that it would
most likely be his dog, or something of that sort, but forgot
his little children: so he agreed to the bargain, and signed
and sealed the engagement to do what was required.
But as he drew near home, his little boy was so pleased
to see him, that he crept behind him and laid fast hold of his
legs. Then the father started with fear, and saw what it was
that he had bound himself to do; but as no gold was come,
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he consoled himself by thinking that it was only a joke that
the dwarf was playing him.
About a month afterwards he went upstairs into an old
lumber-room to look for some old iron, that he might sell
it and raise a little money; and there he saw a large pile of
gold lying on the floor. At the sight of this he was greatly
delighted, went into trade again, and became a greater
merchant than before.
Meantime his son grew up, and as the end of the twelve
years drew near, the merchant became very anxious and
thoughtful; so that care and sorrow were written upon his
face. The son one day asked what was the matter: but his
father refused to tell for some time; at last, however, he said
that he had, without knowing it, sold him to a little ugly-
looking dwarf for a great quantity of gold; and that the
twelve years were coming round when he must perform his
agreement. Then the son said, "Father, give yourself very
little trouble about that; depend upon it I shall be too much
for the little man."
When the time came, they went out together to the
appointed place; and the son drew a circle on the ground,
and set himself and his father in the middle. The little
dwarf soon came, and said to the merchant, "Have you
brought me what you promised?" The old man was silent,
but his son answered, What do you want here?" The dwarf
said, I come to talk with your father, not with you." "You
have deceived and betrayed my father," said the son; "give
him up his bond." "No," replied the other, "I will not yield
up my rights." Upon this a long dispute arose; and at last
it was agreed that the son should be put into an open boat,
that lay on the side of a piece of water hard by, and that the
father should push him off with his own hand; so that he
should be turned adrift. Then he took leave of his father,
and set himself in the boat; and as it was pushed off it
heaved, and fell on one side into the water; so the merchant
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He discovers an enchanted Princess
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thought that his son was lost, and went home very sorrow-
ful.
But the boat went safely on, and did not sink; and the
young man sat securely within, till at length it ran ashore
upon an unknown land. As he jumped upon the shore, he
saw before him a beautiful castle, but empty and desolate
within, for it was enchanted. At last, however, he found a
white snake in one of the chambers.
Now the white snake was an enchanted princess; and she
rejoiced greatly to see him, and said, "Are you at last come
to be my deliverer? Twelve long years have I waited for
you, for you alone can save me. This night twelve men
will come: their faces will be black, and they will be hung
round with chains. They will ask what you do here; but
be silent, give no answer, and let them do what they will-
beat and torment you. Suffer all, only speak not a word;
and at twelve o'clock they must depart. The second night
twelve others will come; and the third night twenty-four, who
will even cut off your head; but at the twelfth hour of that
night their power is gone, and I shall be free, and will come
and bring you the water of life, and will wash you with it,
and restore you to life and health." And all came to pass as
she had said: the merchant's son spoke not a word, and the
third night the princess appeared, and fell on his neck and
kissed him; joy and gladness burst forth throughout the
castle; the wedding was celebrated, and he was king of the
Golden Mountain.
They lived together very happily, and the queen had a
son. Eight years had passed over their heads when the king
thought of his father: and his heart was moved, and he longed
to see him once again. But the queen opposed his going, and
said, I know well that misfortunes will come." However, he
gave her no rest till she consented. At his departure she
presented him with a wishing-ring, and said, "Take this ring,
and put it on your finger; whatever you wish it will bring
O20
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The King of the Golden Mountain
you: only promise that you will not make use of it to bring
me hence to your father's." Then he promised what she
asked, and put the ring on his finger, and wished himself near
the town where his father lived. He found himself at the
gates in a moment; but the guards would not let him enter
because he was so strangely clad. So he went up to a neigh-
bouring mountain where a shepherd dwelt, and borrowed his
old frock, and thus passed unobserved into the town. When
he came to his father's house, he said he was his son; but the
merchant would not believe him, and said he had but one son,
who he knew was long since dead: and as he was only dressed
like a poor shepherd, he would not even offer him anything to
eat. The king, however, persisted that he was his son, and
said, "Is there no mark by which you would know if I am
really your son?" "Yes," observed his mother, "our son has
a mark like a raspberry under the right arm." Then he
showed them the mark, and they were satisfied that what he
said was true. He next told them how he was king of the
Golden Mountain, and was married to a princess, and had a
son seven years old. But the merchant said, That can never
be true; he must be a fine king truly who travels about in a
shepherd's frock." At this the son was very angry; and,
forgetting his promise, turned his ring, and wished for his
queen and son. In an instant they stood before him; but the
queen wept, and said he had broken his word, and misfortune
would follow. He did all he could to soothe her, and she at
last appeared to be appeased; but she was not so in reality,
and only meditated how she should take her revenge.
One day he took her to walk with him out of the town,
and showed her the spot where the boat was turned adrift
upon the wide waters. Then he sat himself down, and said,
" I am very much tired; sit by me, I will rest my head in your
lap, and sleep awhile." As soon as he had fallen asleep, how-
ever, she drew the ring from his finger, and crept softly away,
and wished herself and her son at home in their kingdom.
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And when the king awoke, he found himself alone, and saw
that the ring was gone from his finger. I can never return
to my father's house," said he; "they would say I am a
sorcerer: I will journey forth into the world till I come again
to my kingdom."
So saying, he set out and travelled till he came to a moun-
tain, where three giants were sharing their inheritance; and as
they saw him pass, they cried out and said, Little men have
sharp wits; he shall divide the inheritance between us." Now
it consisted of a sword that cut off an enemy's head whenever
the wearer gave the words, Heads off!"-a cloak that made
the owner invisible, or gave him any form he pleased; and a
pair of boots that transported the person who put them on
wherever he wished. The king said they must first let him
try these wonderful things, that he might know how to set
a value upon them. Then they gave him the cloak, and he
wished himself a fly, and in a moment he was a fly. "The
cloak is very well," said he; "now give me the sword." "No,"
said they, "not unless you promise not to say 'Heads off!'
for if you do, we are all dead men." So they gave it him on
condition that he tried its virtue only on a tree. He next
asked for the boots also; and the moment he had all three in
his possession he wished himself at the Golden Mountain;
and there he was in an instant. So the giants were left
behind with no inheritance to divide or quarrel about.
As he came near to the castle he heard the sound of
merry music; and the people around told him that his queen
was about to celebrate her marriage with another prince.
Then he threw his cloak around him, and passed through the
castle, and placed himself by the side of his queen, where no
one saw him. But when anything to eat was put upon her
plate, he took it away, and ate it himself; and when a glass
of wine was handed to her, he took and drank it: and thus,
though they kept on serving her with meat and drink, her
plate continued always empty.
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The King of the Golden Mountain
Upon this, fear and remorse came over her, and she went
into her chamber and wept; and he followed her there.
"Alas!" said she to herself, "did not my deliverer come? why
then does enchantment still surround me?"
"Traitress!" said he, "your deliverer indeed came, and
now is near you: has he deserved this of you?" And he
went out and dismissed the company, and said the wedding
was at an end, for that he was returned to his kingdom: but
the princes and nobles and councillors mocked at him. How-
ever, he would enter into no parley with them, but only
demanded whether they would depart in peace, or not Then
they turned and tried to seize him; but he drew his sword,
and, with a word, the traitors' heads fell before him; and he
was once more king of the Golden Mountain.
Old Sultan
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Old Sultan
A SHEPHERD had a faithful dog, called Sultan, who was
grown very old, and had lost all his teeth. And one day
when the shepherd and his wife were standing together
before the house the shepherd said, I will shoot old Sultan
to-morrow morning, for he is of no use now." But his wife
said, Pray let the poor faithful creature live; he has served
us well a great many years, and we ought to give him a
livelihood for the rest of his days." But what can we do
with him?" said the shepherd; "he has not a tooth in his
head, and the thieves don't care for him at all. To be sure
he has served us, but then he did it to earn his livelihood;
to-morrow shall be his last day, depend upon it."
Poor Sultan, who was lying close by them, heard all that
the shepherd and his wife said to one another, and was very
much frightened to think to-morrow would be his last day;
so in the evening he went to his good friend the wolf, who
lived in the wood, and told him all his sorrows, and how his
master meant to kill him in the morning. Make yourself
easy," said the wolf, "I will give you some good advice.
Your master, you know, goes out every morning very early
with his wife into the field; and they take their little child
with them, and lay it down behind the hedge in the shade
while they are at work. Now do you lie down close by the
child, and pretend to be watching it, and I will come out of
the wood and run away with it: you must run after me
as fast as you can, and I will let it drop; then you may
carry it back, and they will think you have saved their child,
and will be so thankful to you that they will take care of
you as long as you live," The dog liked this plan very well;
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Old Sultan
and accordingly so it was managed. The wolf ran with the
child a little way; the shepherd and his wife screamed out;
but Sultan soon overtook him, and carried the poor little
thing back to his master and mistress. Then the shepherd
patted him on the head, and said, "Old Sultan has saved
our child from the wolf, and therefore he shall live and be
well taken care of, and have plenty to eat. Wife, go home,
and give him a good dinner, and let him have my old cushion
to sleep on as long as he lives." So from this time forward
Sultan had all that he could wish for.
Soon afterwards the wolf came and wished him joy, and
said, "Now, my good fellow, you must tell no tales, but
turn your head the other way when I want to taste one of
the old shepherd's fine fat sheep." "No," said Sultan; "I
will be true to my master." However, the wolf thought
he was in joke, and came one night to get a dainty morsel.
But Sultan had told his master what the wolf meant to do;
so he laid wait for him behind the barn-door, and when
the wolf was busy looking out for a good fat sheep, he had
a stout cudgel laid about his back, that combed his locks
for him finely.
Then the wolf was very angry, and called Sultan "an
old rogue", and swore he would have his revenge. So the
next morning the wolf sent the boar to challenge Sultan
to come into the wood to fight the matter out. Now Sultan
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had nobody he could ask to be his second but the shepherd's
old three-legged cat; so he took her with him, and as the
poor thing limped along with some trouble, she stuck up
her tail straight in the air.
The wolf and the wild boar were first on the ground; and
when they espied their enemies coming, and saw the cat's
long tail standing straight in the air, they thought she was
carrying a sword for Sultan to fight with; and every time
she limped, they thought she was picking up a stone to
throw at them; so they said they should not like this way
of fighting, and the boar lay down behind a bush, and the
wolf jumped up into a tree. Sultan and the cat soon came
up, and looked about, and wondered that no one was there.
The boar, however, had not quite hidden himself, for his
ears stuck out of the bush; and when he shook one of them
a little, the cat, seeing something move, and thinking it was
a mouse, sprang upon it, and bit and scratched it, so that
the boar jumped up and grunted, and ran away, roaring out,
"Look up in the tree; there sits the one who is to blame!"
So they looked up, and espied the wolf sitting amongst
the branches; and they called him a cowardly rascal, and
would not suffer him to come down till he was heartily
ashamed of himself, and had promised to be good friends
again with old Sultan.
King Grisly-Beard
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King Grisly-Beard
A GREAT king had a daughter who was very beautiful, but
so proud and haughty and conceited, that none of the princes
who came to ask her in marriage were good enough for her,
and she only made sport of them.
Once upon a time the king held a great feast, and invited
all her suitors; and they sat in a row according to their rank,
kings and princes and dukes and earls. Then the princess
came in and passed by them all, but she had something
spiteful to say to every one. The first was too fat: "He's
as round as a tub!" said she. The next was too tall: "What
a maypole!" said she. The next was too short: "What a
dumpling!" said she. The fourth was too pale, and she
called him "Wallface". The fifth was too red, so she called
him "Cockscomb". The sixth was not straight enough, so
she said he was like a green stick that had been laid to dry
over a baker's oven. And thus she had some joke to crack
upon every one; but she laughed more than all at a good
king who was there. "Look at him," said she, "his beard
is like an old mop, he shall be called Grisly-beard!" So
the king got the nickname of Grisly-beard.
But the old king was very angry when he saw how his
daughter behaved, and how she ill-treated all his guests;
and he vowed that, willing or unwilling, she should marry
the first beggar that came to the door.
Two days after there came by a travelling musician, who
began to sing under the window, and beg alms: and when
the king heard him, he said, "Let him come in." So they
brought in a dirty-looking fellow; and when he had sung
before the king and the princess, he begged a boon. Then
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Grimm's Fairy Tales
the king said, "You have sung so well, that I will give you
my daughter for your wife." The princess begged and
prayed; but the king said, "I have sworn to give you to
the first beggar, and I will keep my word." So words and
tears were of no avail; the parson was sent for, and she
was married to the musician. When this was over, the king
said, "Now get ready to go: you must not stay here: you
must travel on with your husband."
Then the beggar departed, and took her with him; and
they soon came to a great wood. Pray," said she, "whose
is this wood?" "It belongs to king Grisly-beard," answered
he; had you taken him, all had been yours." Ah! unlucky
wretch that I am!" sighed she, "would that I had married
king Grisly-beard!" Next they came to some fine meadows.
" Whose are those beautiful green meadows?" said she. They
belong to king Grisly-beard; had you taken him, they had
all been yours." "Ah! unlucky wretch that I am!" said she,
"would that I had married king Grisly-beard!"
Then they came to a great city. "Whose is this noble
city?" said she. "It belongs to king Grisly-beard: had you
taken him, it had all been yours." "Ah! miserable wretch
that I am!" sighed she, "why did I not marry king Grisly-
beard?" "That is no business of mine," said the musician;
"why should you wish for another husband? am not I good
enough for you?"
At last they came to a small cottage. "What a paltry
place!" said she; to whom does that little dirty hole belong?"
The musician answered, That is your and my house, where
we are to live." "Where are your servants?" cried she.
"What do we want with servants?" said he, "you must do
for yourself whatever is to be done. Now make the fire,
and put on water and cook my supper, for I am very tired."
But the princess knew nothing of making fires and cooking,
and the beggar was forced to help her. When they had
eaten a very scanty meal they went to bed; but the musician
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The Soldier upsets the Stall
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King Grisly-Beard
called her up very early in the morning to clean the house.
Thus they lived for two days: and when they had eaten up
all there was in the cottage, the man said, "Wife, we can't
go on thus, spending money and earning nothing. You
must learn to weave baskets." Then he went out and cut
willows and brought them home, and she began to weave;
but it made her fingers very sore. "I see this work won't
do," said he, "try and spin; perhaps you will do that better."
So she sat down and tried to spin; but the threads cut her
tender fingers till the blood ran. "See now," said the
musician, "you are good for nothing, you can do no work;
-what a bargain I have got! However, I'll try and set
up a trade in pots and pans, and you shall stand in the
market and sell them." "Alas!" sighed she, "when I stand
in the market and any of my father's court pass by and see
me there, how they will laugh at me!"
But the beggar did not care for that; and said she must
work, if she did not wish to die of hunger. At first the
trade went well; for many people, seeing such a beautiful
woman, went to buy her wares, and paid their money without
thinking of taking away the goods. They lived on this as
long as it lasted, and then her husband bought a fresh lot
of ware, and she sat herself down with it in the corer of
the market; but a drunken soldier soon came by, and rode
his horse against her stall and broke all her goods into a
thousand pieces. Then she began to weep, and knew not
what to do. "Ah! what will become of me?" said she;
"what will my husband say?" So she ran home and told
him all. "Who would have thought you would have
been so silly," said he, "as to put an earthenware stall
in the corner of the market, where everybody passes?-But
let us have no more crying; I see you are not fit for this
sort of work: so I have been to the king's palace, and asked
if they did not want a kitchen-maid, and they have pro-
mised to take you, and there you will have plenty to eat."
(B oo) 129 I
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Thus the princess became a kitchen-maid, and helped the
cook to do all the dirtiest work: she was allowed to carry
home some of the meat that was left, and on this she and
her husband lived.
She had not been there long, before she heard that the
king's eldest son was passing by, going to be married; and
she went to one of the windows and looked out. Everything
was ready, and all the pomp and splendour of the court was
there. Then she thought with an aching heart of her own
sad fate, and bitterly grieved for the pride and folly which
had brought her so low. And the servants gave her some of
the rich meats, which she put into her basket to take home.
All on a sudden, as she was going out, in came the king's
son in golden clothes: and when he saw a beautiful woman at
the door, he took her by the hand, and said she should be his
partner in the dance: but she trembled for fear, for she saw
that it was king Grisly-beard, who was making sport of her.
However, he kept fast hold and led her in; and the cover of
the basket came off, so that the meats in it fell all about.
Then everybody laughed and jeered at her; and she was so
abashed that she wished herself a thousand feet deep in the
earth. She sprang to the door to run away; but on the steps
king Grisly-beard overtook and brought her back, and said,
"Fear me not! I am the musician who has lived with you in
the hut: I brought you there because I loved you. I am also
the soldier who overset your stall. I have done all this only
to cure you of pride, and to punish you for the ill-treatment
you bestowed on me. Now all is over; you have learnt wisdom,
your faults are gone, and it is time to celebrate our marriage
feast!"
Then the chamberlains came and brought her the most
beautiful robes; and her father and his whole court were there
already, and congratulated her on her marriage. Joy was in
every face. The feast was grand, and all were merry; and I
wish you and I had been of the party.
130
The Giant with the Three Colden Hairs
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The Giant with the Three Golden
Hairs
THERE was once a poor man who had an only son born
to him. The child was born under a lucky star; and those
who told his fortune said that in his fourteenth year he would
marry the king's daughter. It so happened that the king
of that land soon after the child's birth passed through the
village in disguise, and asked whether there was any news.
"Yes," said the people, "a child has just been born, that
they say is to be a lucky one, and when he is fourteen years
old, he is fated to marry the king's daughter." This did
not please the king; so he went to the poor child's parents
and asked them whether they would sell him their son.
"No," said they; but the stranger begged very hard and
offered a great deal of money, and they had scarcely bread
to eat, so at last they consented, thinking to themselves, he
is a luck's child, he can come to no harm.
The king took the child, put it into a box, and rode away;
but when he came to a deep stream, he threw it into the
current, and said to himself, "That young gentleman will
never be my daughter's husband." The box, however, floated
down the stream; some kind spirit watched over it so that
no water reached the child, and at last about two miles from
the king's capital it stopped at the dam of a mill. The miller
soon saw it, and took a long pole, and drew it towards the
shore, and finding it heavy, thought there was gold inside;
but when he opened it, he found a pretty little boy, that
smiled upon him merrily. Now the miller and his wife had
no children, and therefore rejoiced to see the prize, saying,
149 00160.jpg
Grimm's Fairy Tales
"Heaven has sent it to us;" so they treated it very kindly,
and brought it up with such care that everyone admired
and loved it.
About thirteen years passed over their heads, when the
king came by accident to the mill, and asked the miller if
that was his son. "No," said he, I found him when a babe
in a box in the mill-dam." How long ago?" asked the king.
"Some thirteen years," replied the miller. "He is a fine
fellow," said the king. "Can you spare him to carry a letter
to the queen? it will please me very much, and I will give
him two pieces of gold for his trouble." As your Majesty
pleases," answered the miller.
Now the king had soon guessed that this was the child
whom he had tried to drown; and he sent a letter by him to
the queen, saying "As soon as the bearer of this arrives, let
him be killed and immediately buried, so that all may be over
before I return".
The young man set out with his letter, but missed his
way, and came in the evening to a dark wood. Through the
gloom he perceived a light at a distance, towards which he
directed his course, and found that it proceeded from a little
cottage. There was no one within except an old woman, who
was frightened at seeing him, and said, Why do you come
hither, and whither are you going?" "I am going to the
queen, to whom I was to have delivered a letter; but I have
lost my way, and shall be glad if you will give me a night's
rest." You are very unlucky," said she, for this is a robbers'
hut, and if the band returns while you are here it may be
worse for you." I am so tired, however," replied he, "that I
must take my chance, for I can go no farther;" so he laid the
letter on the table, stretched himself out upon a bench, and
fell asleep.
When the robbers came home and saw him, they asked
the old woman who the strange lad was. "I have given him
shelter for charity," said she; "he had a letter to carry to the
150 00161.jpg
The Giant with the Three Golden Hairs
queen, and lost his way." The robbers took up the letter,
broke it open and read the directions which it contained to
murder the bearer. Then their leader tore it, and wrote a
fresh one desiring the queen, as soon as the young man arrived,
to marry him to the king's daughter. Meantime they let him
sleep on till morning broke, and then showed him the right
way to the queen's palace; where, as soon as she had read the
letter, she had all possible preparations made for the wedding;
and as the young man was very beautiful, the princess took
him willingly for her husband.
After awhile the king returned; and when he saw the pre-
diction fulfilled, and that this child of fortune was, notwith-
standing all his cunning, married to his daughter, he enquired
eagerly how this had happened, and what were the orders
which he had given. "Dear husband," said the queen, "here
is your letter, read it for yourself." The king took it, and see-
ing that an exchange had been made, asked his son-in-law
what he had done with the letter which he had given him to
carry. "I know nothing of it," answered he; "it must have
been taken away in the night while I slept." Then the king
was very wroth, and said, No man shall have my daughter
who does not descend into the wonderful cave and bring me
three golden hairs from the head of the giant king who reigns
there; do this and you shall have my consent." "I will soon
manage that," said the youth; so he took leave of his wife and
set out on his journey.
At the first city that he came to, the guard of the gate
stopped him, and asked what trade he followed and what he
knew. I know everything," said he. If that be so," replied
they, "you are just the man we want; be so good as to tell us
why our fountain in the market-place is dry and will give no
water; find out the cause of that, and we will give you two
asses loaded with gold." "With all my heart," said he, "when
I come back."
Then he journeyed on and came to another city, and there
151 00162.jpg
Grimm's Fairy Tales
the guard asked him what trade he followed, and what he
understood. I know everything," answered he. "Then pray
do us a service," said they; "tell us why a tree which used to
bear us golden apples, now does not even produce a leaf."
" Most willingly," answered he, "as I come back."
At last his way led him to the side of a great lake of water
over which he must pass. The ferryman soon began to ask,
as the others had done, what was his trade, and what he knew.
"Everything," said he. "Then," said the other, "pray inform
me why I am bound for ever to ferry over this water, and
have never been able to get my liberty; I will reward you
handsomely." "I will tell you all about it," said the young
man, "as I come home."
When he had passed the water, he came to the wonderful
cave, which looked terribly black and gloomy. But the wizard
king was not at home, and his grandmother sat at the door in
her easy-chair. "What do you seek?" said she. "Three
golden hairs from the giant's head," answered he. "You run
a great risk," said she, "when he returns home; yet I will try
what I can do for you." Then she changed him into an ant,
and told him to hide himself in the folds of her cloak. "Very
well," said he: but I want also to know why the city fountain
is dry, why the tree that bore golden apples is now leafless,
and what it is that binds the ferryman to his post." "Those
are three puzzling questions," said the old dame; "but lie
quiet and listen to what the giant says when I pull the golden
hairs."
Presently night set in and the old gentleman returned
home. As soon as he entered he began to snuff up the air,
and cried, "All is not right here: I smell man's flesh." Then
he searched all round in vain, and the old dame scolded, and
said, "Why should you turn everything topsy-turvy? I have
just set all in order." Upon this he laid his head in her lap
and soon fell asleep. As soon as he began to snore, she seized
one of the golden hairs, and pulled it out. Mercy!" cried he,
U34
152 00163.jpg
- ~
" The princess took him willingly for her husband "
153 00164.jpg
Grimm's Fairy Tales
starting up, "what are you about?" I had a dream that dis-
turbed me," said she; "and in my trouble I seized your hair:
I dreamt that the fountain in the market-place of the city was
become dry and would give no water; what can be the cause?"
" Ah! if they could find that out, they would be glad," said the
giant: "under a stone in the fountain sits a toad; when they
kill him, it will flow again."
This said, he fell asleep, and the old lady pulled out
another hair... "What would you be at?" cried he in a rage.
" Don't be angry," said she, I did it in my sleep; I dreamt
that in a great kingdom there was a beautiful tree that used
to bear golden apples, and now has not even a leaf upon it;
what is the reason of that?" "Aha!" said the giant, "they
would like very well to know that secret: at the root of the
tree a mouse is gnawing; if they were to kill him, the tree
would bear golden apples again; if not, it will soon die. Now
let me sleep in peace; if you wake me again, you shall rue it."
Then he fell once more asleep; and when she heard him
snore she pulled out the third golden hair, and the giant
jumped up and threatened her sorely; but she soothed him,
and said, It was a strange dream; methought I saw a ferry-
man who was fated to ply backwards and forwards over a
lake, and could never be set at liberty; what is the charm
that binds him?" "A silly fool!" said the giant; "if he were
to give the rudder into the hand of any passenger, he would
find himself at liberty, and the other would be obliged to take
his place. Now let me sleep."
In the morning the giant arose and went out; and the old
woman gave the young man the three golden hairs, reminded
him of the answers to his three questions, and sent him on his
way.
He soon came to the ferryman, who knew him again, and
asked for the answer which he had promised him. Ferry me
over first," said he, and then I will tell you." When the boat
arrived on the other side, he told him to give the rudder to
136
154 00165.jpg
The Giant with the Three Golden Hairs
any of his passengers, and then he might run away as soon as
he pleased. The next place he came to was the city where
the barren tree stood: "Kill the mouse," said he, "that gnaws
the root, and you will have golden apples again." They gave
him a rich present, and he journeyed on to the city where the
fountain had dried up, and the guard demanded his answer to
their question. So he told them how to cure the mischief,
and they thanked him and gave him the two asses laden with
gold.
And now at last this child of fortune reached home, and
his wife rejoiced greatly to see him, and to hear how well
everything had gone with him. He gave the three golden
hairs to the king, who could no longer raise any objection to
him, and when he saw all the treasure, cried out in a transport
of joy, Dear son, where did you find all this gold?" By the
side of a lake," said the youth, where there is plenty more to
be had." "Pray, tell me," said the king, "that I may go and
get some too." "As much as you please," replied the other;
"you will see the ferryman on the lake, let him carry you
across, and there you will see gold as plentiful as sand upon
the shore."
Away went the greedy king; and when he came to the
lake, he beckoned to the ferryman, who took him into his
boat, and as soon as he was there gave the rudder into his
hand, and sprang ashore, leaving the old king to ferry away
as a reward for his sins.
"And is his Majesty plying there to this day?" You may
be sure of that, for nobody will trouble himself to take the
rudder out of his hands.
The Adventures of Chanticleer and Partlet
155 00166.jpg
The Adventures of Chanticleer
and Partlet
I. HOW THEY WENT TO THE MOUNTAINS TO
EAT NUTS
"THE nuts are quite ripe now," said Chanticleer to his wife
Partlet; "suppose we go together to the mountains, and eat
as many as we can, before the squirrel takes them all away."
"With all my heart," said Partlet; "let us go and make a
holiday of it together."
So they went to the mountains; and as it was a lovely day,
they stayed there till the evening. Now, whether it was that
they had eaten so many nuts that they could not walk, or
whether they were lazy and would not, I do not know: how-
ever, they took it into their heads that it was not proper for
them to go home on foot. So Chanticleer began to build a
little carriage of nut-shells: and when it was finished, Partlet
jumped into it and sat down, and bid Chanticleer harness him-
self to it and draw her home. "That's a good joke!" said
Chanticleer; "no, that will never do; I had much rather walk
home; I'll sit on the box and be coachman, if you like, but I'll
not draw." While this was passing, a duck came quacking up
and cried out, "You thieving vagabonds, what business have
you in my grounds? I'll teach you not to come back again!"
and with that she fell upon Chanticleer most lustily. But
Chanticleer was no coward, and returned the duck's blows
with his sharp spurs so fiercely, that she soon began to cry
out for mercy; which was only granted her upon condition
that she would draw the carriage home for them. This she
138
156 00167.jpg
Chanticleer gives the Innkeeper an Egg
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Adventures of Chanticleer and Partlet
agreed to do; and Chanticleer got upon the box, and drove,
crying, Now, Duck, get on as fast as you can." And away
they went at a pretty good pace.
After they had travelled a little way, they met a needle
and a pin walking together along the road. The needle cried
out "Stop! stop!" and said it was so dark that they could
hardly find their way, and the roads were so dirty that they
could not get on at all. He told them that he and his friend,
the pin, had been at an inn a few miles off, and had sat there
till they had forgotten how late it was; he begged therefore
that the travellers would be so kind as to give them a lift
in their carriage. Chanticleer, observing that they were
but thin fellows, and not likely to take up much room, told
them they might ride, but made them promise not to dirty
the wheels of the carriage in getting in, nor to tread on
Partlet's toes.
At last they arrived at an inn; and as it was bad travelling
in the dark, and the duck seemed much tired, and waddled
about a good deal from one side to the other, they made up
their minds to fix their quarters there. But the landlord at
first was unwilling, and said his house was full, thinking they
might not be very respectable company. However, they
spoke civilly to him, and gave him the egg which Partlet had
laid by the way, and said they would give him the duck, who
was in the habit of laying one every day. So at last he let
them come in, and they ordered a handsome supper, and
spent the evening very gaily.
Early in the morning, before it was quite light, and when
nobody was stirring in the inn, Chanticleer awakened his
wife, and, fetching the egg, they pecked a hole in it, ate it up,
and threw the shells into the fireplace. They then went to
the pin and needle, who were fast asleep, and, seizing them by
their heads, stuck one into the landlord's easy-chair, and the
other into his handkerchief; and having done this, they crept
away as softly as possible. However, the duck, who slept in
'39
158 00170.jpg
Grimm's Fairy Tales
the open air in the yard, heard them corning, and jumping
into the brook which ran close by the inn, soon swam out of
their reach.
An hour or two afterwards the landlord got up, and took
his handkerchief to
wipe his face, but
the pin ran into
him and pricked
rahim. Then he
walked into the
kitchen to light his
pipe at the fire,
but when he stirred
the embers the egg-
shells flew into his
eyes and almost
blinded him. "Bless
me!" said he, "all
the world seems
to have a design
against my head
this morning!" and
so saying, he threw
himself sulkily into
his easy-chair; but,
oh dear! the needle
ran into him. He
now flew into a very great passion, and, suspecting the com-
pany who had come in the night before, he went to look
after them, but they were all off; so he vowed that he would
never again take in such a troop of vagabonds, who ate a
great deal, paid no reckoning, and gave him nothing for his
trouble but their apish tricks.
159 00171.jpg
Adventures of Chanticleer and Partlet
2. How CHANTICLEER AND PARTLET WENT TO VISIT
MR. KORBES
Another day, Chanticleer and Partlet wished to ride out
together; so Chanticleer built a handsome carriage with four
red wheels, and harnessed six mice to it; and then he and
Partlet got into the carriage, and away they drove. Soon
afterwards a cat met them, and said, Where are you going?"
And Chanticleer replied,
"All on our way,
A visit to pay
To Mr. Korbes, the fox, to-day."
Then the cat said, "Take me with you." Chanticleer
said, "With all my heart: get up behind, and be sure you do
not fall off."
"Take care of this handsome coach of mine,
Nor dirty my pretty red wheels so fine!
Now, mice, be ready,
And, wheels, run steady
For we are going a visit to pay
To Mr. Korbes, the fox, to-day."
Soon after they overtook a mill-stone, an egg, a duck, and
a pin; and Chanticleer gave them all leave to get into the
carriage and go with them.
160 00172.jpg
Grimm's Fairy Tales
When they arrived at Mr. Korbes's house, he was not at
home; so the mice drew the carriage into the coach-house,
Chanticleer and Partlet flew upon a beam, the cat sat down in
the fireplace, the duck got into the washing-tub, the pin stuck
himself into the bed-pillow, the mill-stone laid himself over
the house-door, and the egg rolled herself up in the towel.
When Mr. Korbes came home, he went to the fireplace to
make a fire; but the cat threw all the ashes in his eyes: so he
ran to the kitchen to wash himself; but there the duck splashed
all the water in his face; and when he tried to wipe himself
with the towel, the egg broke to pieces all over his face and
eyes. Then he was very angry, and went without his supper
to bed; but when he laid his head on the pillow, the pin ran
into his cheek: at this he became quite furious, and, jumping
up, would have run out of the house; but when he came to
the door, the mill-stone fell on his head, and killed him.
3. How PARTLET DIED AND WAS BURIED, AND HOW
CHANTICLEER DIED OF GRIEF
Another day Chanticleer and Partlet agreed to go again
to the mountains to eat nuts; and it was settled that all the
nuts which they found should be shared equally between them.
Now Partlet found a very large nut; but she said nothing
about it to Chanticleer, and kept it all to herself: however, it
was so big that she could not swallow it, and it stuck in her
throat. Then she was in a great fright, and cried out to
Chanticleer, Pray run as fast as you can, and fetch me some
water, or I shall be choked." Chanticleer ran as fast as he
could to the river, and said, River, give me some water, for
Partlet lies on the mountain, and will be choked by a great
nut." The river said, Run first to the bride, and ask her for
a silken cord to draw up the water." Chanticleer ran to the
bride, and said, Bride, you must give me a silken cord, for
then the river will give me water, and the water I will carry
142
161 00174.jpg
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Adventures of Chanticleer and Partlet
to Partlet, who lies on the mountain, and will be choked by a
great nut." But the bride said, Run first, and bring me my
garland that is hanging on a willow in the garden." Then
Chanticleer ran to the garden, and took the garland from the
bough where it hung, and brought it to the bride; and then
the bride gave him the silken cord, and he took the silken
cord to the river, and the river gave him water, and he carried
the water to Partlet; but in the meantime she was choked by
the great nut, and lay quite dead, and never moved any more.
Then Chanticleer was very sorry, and cried bitterly; and
all the beasts came and wept with him over poor Partlet.
And six mice built a little hearse to carry her to her grave;
and when it was ready they harnessed themselves before it,
and Chanticleer drove them. On the way they met the fox.
"Where are you going, Chanticleer?" said he. "To bury my
Partlet," said the other. "May I go with you?" said the fox.
143
163 00177.jpg
Grimm's Fairy Tales
"Yes; but you must get up behind, or my horses will not be
able to draw you." Then the fox got up behind; and pre-
sently the wolf, the bear, the goat, and all the beasts of the
wood, came and climbed upon the hearse.
So on they went till they came to a rapid stream. How
shall we get over?" said Chanticleer. Then said a straw, "I
will lay myself across, and you may pass over upon me." But
as the mice were going over, the straw slipped away and fell
into the water, and the six mice all fell in and were drowned.
What was to be done? Then a log of wood came and said,
"I am big enough; I will lay myself across the stream, and
you shall pass over upon me." So he laid himself down; but
they managed so clumsily, that the log of wood fell in and
was carried away by the stream. Then a stone, who saw
what had happened, came up and kindly offered to help poor
Chanticleer by laying himself across the stream; and this time
he got safely to the other side with the hearse; but the fox
and the other mourners were too heavy, and fell back into the
water and were all carried away by the stream and drowned.
Thus Chanticleer was left alone with his dead Partlet;
and having dug a grave for her, he laid her in it, and made a
little hillock over her. Then he sat down by the grave, and
wept and mourned till at last he died too: and so all were
dead.
Faithful John
164 00178.jpg
Faithful John
AN old king fell sick; and when he found his end drawing
near, he said, "Let Faithful John come to me." Now
Faithful John was the servant that he was fondest of, and
was so called because he had been true to his master all
his life long. Then when he came to the bedside, the king
said, My faithful John, I feel that my end draws nigh, and
I have now no cares save for my son, who is still young,
and stands in need of good counsel. I have no friend to
leave him but you; if you do not pledge yourself to teach
him all he should know, and to be a father to him, I shall
not shut my eyes in peace." Then John said, I will never
leave him, but will serve him faithfully, even though it
should cost me my life." And the king said, I shall now
die in peace: after my death, show him the whole palace;
all the rooms and vaults, and all the treasures and stores
which lie there: but take care how you show him one room,-
I mean the one where hangs the picture of the daughter
of the king of the golden roof. If he sees it, he will fall
deeply in love with her, and will then be plunged into
great dangers on her account; guard him in this peril."
And when Faithful John had once more pledged his word
to the old king, he laid his head on his pillow, and died in
peace.
Now when the old king had been carried to his grave,
Faithful John told the young king what had passed upon his
father's death-bed, and said, I will keep my word truly, and
be faithful to you as I was always to your father, though
it should cost me my life." And the young king wept, and
said, "Neither will I ever forget your faithfulness."
(B2ooI 45 K
165 00179.jpg
Grimm's Fairy Tales
The days of mourning passed away, and then Faithful
John said to his master, "It is now time that you should
see your heritage; I will show you your father's palace."
Then he led him about everywhere, up and down, and let
him see all the riches and all the costly rooms; only one
room, where the picture stood, he did not open. Now the
picture was so placed, that the moment the door opened,
you could see it; and it was so beautifully done, that one
would think it breathed and had life, and that there was
nothing more lovely in the whole world. When the young
king saw that Faithful John always went by this door, he
said, "Why do you not open that room?" "There is some-
thing inside," he answered, "which would frighten you."
But the king said, "I have seen the whole palace, and I
must also know what is in there;" and he went and began
to force open the door: but Faithful John held him back,
and said, "I gave my word to your father before his death,
that I would take heed how I showed you what stands in
that room, lest it should lead you and me into great trouble."
"The greatest trouble to me," said the young king, "will
be not to go in and see the room; I shall have no peace
by day or by night until I do; so I- will not go hence until
you open it."
Then Faithful John saw that with all he could do or
say the young king would have his way; so, with a heavy
heart and many foreboding sighs, he sought for the key
out of his great bunch; and he opened the door of the
room, and entered in first, so as to stand between the king
and the picture, hoping he might not see it: but he raised him-
self upon tiptoes, and looked over John's shoulders; and as
soon as he saw the likeness of the lady, so beautiful and shin-
ing with gold, he fell down upon the floor senseless. Then
Faithful John lifted him up in his arms, and carried him to his
bed, and was full of care, and thought to himself, This trouble
has come upon us; what will be the end of it?"
166 00180.jpg
Faithful John
At last the king came to himself again; but the first
thing that he said was, "Whose is that beautiful picture?"
"It is the picture of the daughter of the king of the golden
roof," said Faithful John. But the king went on, saying,
"My love towards her is so great, that if all the leaves
on the trees were tongues, they could not speak it; I fear
not to risk my life to win her; you are my faithful friend,
you must aid me."
Then John thought for a long time what was now to be
done; and at length said to the king, All that she has about
her is of gold: the tables, stools, cups, dishes, and all the
things in her house are of gold; and she is always seeking
new treasures. Now in your stores there is much gold;
let it be worked up into every kind of vessel, and into all
sorts of birds, wild beasts, and wonderful animals; then we
will take it and try our fortune." So the king ordered all
the goldsmiths to be sought for; and they worked day and
night, until at last the most beautiful things were made:
and Faithful John had a ship loaded with them, and put
on a merchant's dress, and the king did the same, that
they might not be known.
When all was ready they put out to sea, and sailed
till they came to the coast of the land where the king of
the golden roof reigned. Faithful John told the king to
stay in the ship, and wait for him; "for perhaps," said he,
"I may be able to bring away the king's daughter with
me: therefore take care that everything be in order; let the
golden vessels and ornaments be brought forth, and the
whole ship be decked out with them." And he chose out
something of each of the golden things to put into his
basket, and got ashore, and went towards the king's palace.
And when he came to the castle-yard, there stood by the
well-side a beautiful maiden, who had two golden pails in
her hand, drawing water. And as she drew up the water,
which was glittering with gold, she turned herself round,
167 00181.jpg
Grimm's Fairy Tales
and saw the stranger, and asked him who he was. Then
he drew near, and said, "I am a merchant," and opened
his basket, and let her look into it; and she cried, "Oh!
what beautiful things!" and set down her pails, and looked
at one after the other. Then she said, The king's daughter
must see all these; she is so fond of such things, that she
will buy all of you." So she took him by the hand, and
led him in; for she was one of the waiting-maids of the
daughter of the king.
When the princess saw the wares, she was greatly pleased,
and said, They are so beautiful that I will buy them all."
But Faithful John said, "I am only the servant of a rich
merchant; what I have here is nothing to what he has lying
in yonder ship: there he has the finest and most costly
things that ever were made in gold." The princess wanted
to have them all brought ashore; but he said, "That would
take up many days, there are such a number; and more
rooms would be wanted to place them in than there are
in the greatest house." But her wish to see them grew
still greater, and at last she said, "Take me to the ship; I
will go myself, and look at your master's wares."
Then Faithful John led her joyfully to the ship, and the
king, when he saw her, thought that his heart would leap
out of his breast; and it was with the greatest trouble that
he kept himself still. So she got into the ship, and the
king led her down; but Faithful John stayed behind with
the steersman, and ordered the ship to put off: "Spread
all your sail," cried he, "that she may fly over the waves
like a bird through the air."
And the king showed the princess the golden wares,
each one singly: the dishes, cups, basins, and the wild and
wonderful beasts; so that many hours flew away, and she
looked at everything with delight, and was not aware that
the ship was sailing away. And after she had looked at
the last, she thanked the merchant, and said she would
,.48
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"He saw three ravens flying towards him"
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Grimm's Fairy Tales
go home; but when she came upon the deck, she saw that
the ship was sailing far away from land upon the deep
sea, and that it flew along at full sail. "Alas!" she cried
out in her fright, "I am betrayed; I am carried off, and
have fallen into the power of a roving trader; I would
sooner have died." But then the king took her by the
hand, and said, "I am not a merchant, I am a king, and
of as noble birth as you. I have taken you away by stealth,
but I did so because of the very great love I have for you;
for the first time that I saw your face, I fell on the ground
in a swoon." When the daughter of the king of the golden
roof heard all, she was comforted, and her heart soon turned
towards him, and she was willing to become his wife.
But it so happened, that whilst they were sailing on the
deep sea, Faithful John, as he sat on the prow of the ship
playing on his flute, saw three ravens flying in the air
towards him. Then he left off playing, and listened to
what they said to each other, for he understood their tongue.
The first said, "There he goes! he is bearing away the
daughter of the king of the golden roof; let him go!"
"Nay," said the second; "there he goes, but he has not
got her yet." And the third said, "There he goes; he
surely has her, for she is sitting by his side in the ship."
Then the first began again, and cried out, "What boots
it to him? See you not that when they come to land,
a horse of a foxy-red colour will spring towards him; and
then he will try to get upon it, and if he does, it will spring
away with him into the air, so that he will never see his
love again." "True! true!" said the second, "but is there
no help?" "Oh! yes, yes!" said the first; "if he who sits
upon the horse takes the dagger which is stuck in the
saddle and strikes him dead, the young king is saved: but
who knows that? and who will tell him, that he who thus
saves the king's life will turn to stone from the toes of his
feet to his knee?" Then the second said, "True! true!
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Faithful John
but I know more still; though the horse be dead, the king
loses his bride: when they go together into the palace,
there lies the bridal dress on the couch, and looks as if
it were woven of gold and silver, but it is all brimstone
and pitch; and if he puts it on, it will burn him, marrow
and bones." "Alas! alas! is there no help?" said the
third. "Oh! yes, yes!" said the second; "if someone draws
near and throws it into the fire, the young king will be
saved. But what boots that? who knows and will tell him,
that if he does, his body from the knee to the heart will
be turned to stone?" "Morel more! I know more," said the
third: "were the dress burnt, still the king loses his bride.
After the wedding, when the dance begins, and the young
queen dances on, she will turn pale, and fall as though she
were dead: and if someone does not draw near and lift
her up, and take from her right breast three drops of blood,
she will surely die. But if anyone knew this, he would tell
him, that if he does do so, his body will turn to stone, from
the crown of his head to the tip of his toe."
Then the ravens flapped their wings, and flew on; but
Faithful John, who had understood it all, from that time was
sorrowful, and did not tell his master what he had heard: for
he saw that if he told him, he must himself lay down his life
to save him: at last he said to himself, "I will be faithful to
my word, and save my master, if it costs me my life."
Now when they came to land, it happened just as the
ravens had foretold; for there sprang out a fine foxy-red
horse. "See," said the king, "he shall bear me to my
palace:" and he tried to mount, but Faithful John leaped
before him, and swung himself quickly upon it, drew the dagger,
and smote the horse dead. Then the other servants of the
king, who were jealous of Faithful John, cried out, What a
shame to kill the fine beast that was to take the king to his
palace!" But the king said, "Let him alone, it is my Faithful
John; who knows but he did it for some good end?"
'5'
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Then they went on to the castle, and there stood a couch
in one room, and a fine dress lay upon it, that shone with
gold and silver; and the young king went up to it to take
hold of it, but Faithful John cast it on the fire, and burnt it.
And the other servants began again to grumble, and said,
"See, now he is burning the wedding-dress." But the king
said, "Who knows what he does it for? let him alone! he is
my faithful servant John."
Then the wedding feast was held, and the dance began,
and the bride also came in, but Faithful John took good
heed, and looked in her face; and on a sudden she turned
pale, and fell as though she were dead upon the ground.
But he sprang towards her quickly, lifted her up, and took
her and laid her upon a couch, and drew three drops of
blood from her right breast. And she breathed again, and
came to herself. But the young king had seen all, and did
not know why Faithful John had done it; so he was angry
at his boldness, and said, "Throw him into prison."
The next morning Faithful John was led forth, and stood
upon the gallows, and said, "May I speak out before I die?"
and when the king answered, "It shall be granted thee," he
said, "I am wrongly judged, for I have always been faithful
and true:" and then he told what he had heard the ravens
say upon the sea, and how he meant to save his master, and
had therefore done all these things.
When he had told all, the king called out, "0 my most
faithful John! pardon! pardon! take him down!" But
Faithful John had fallen down lifeless at the last word he
spoke, and lay as a stone: and the king and the queen
mourned over him; and the king said, "Oh, how ill have I
rewarded your truth!" And he ordered the stone figure to
be taken up, and placed in his own room near to his bed;
and as often as he looked at it he wept, and said, Oh, that
I could bring you back to life again, my Faithful John!"
After a time, the queen had, two little sons, who grew up,
15
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Faithful John
and were her great joy. One day, when she was at church,
the two children stayed with their father: and as they played
about, he looked at the stone figure, and sighed, and cried
out, "Oh, that I could bring you back to life, my Faithful
John!" Then the stone began to speak, and said, "O king
you can bring me back to life if you will give up for my
sake what is dearest to you." But the king said, "All that
I have in the world would I give up for you." "Then," said
the stone, "cut off the heads of your children, sprinkle their
blood over me, and I shall live again." Then the king was
greatly shocked; but he thought how Faithful John had died
for his sake, and because of his great truth towards him; and
rose up and drew his sword to cut off his children's heads and
sprinkle the stone with their blood; but the moment he drew
his sword Faithful John was alive again, and stood before his
face, and said, "Your truth is rewarded." And the children
sprang about and played as if nothing had happened.
Then the king was full of joy: and when he saw the queen
coming, to try her, he put Faithful John and the two children
in a large closet; and when she came in he said to her, Have
you been at church?" "Yes," said she, "but I could not help
thinking of Faithful John, who was so true to us." "Dear
wife," said the king, "we can bring him back to life again,
but it will cost us both our little sons, and we must give them
up for his sake." When the queen heard this, she turned
pale and was frightened in her heart; but she said, "Let it
be so; we owe him all, for his great faith and truth." Then
he rejoiced because she thought as he had thought, and went
in and opened the closet, and brought out the children and
Faithful John, and said, "Heaven be praised! he is ours
again, and we have our sons safe too." So he told her
the whole story; and all lived happily together the rest of
their lives.
The Blue Light
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The Blue Light
A SOLDIER had served a king his master many years, till at
last he was turned off without pay or reward. How he
should get his living he did not know: so he set out and
journeyed homeward all the day in a very downcast mood,
until in the evening he came to the edge of a deep wood.
The road leading that way, he pushed forward, but he had
not gone far before he saw a light glimmering through the
trees. Towards this he bent his weary steps; and soon he
came to a hut where no one lived but an old witch. The
poor fellow begged for a night's lodging and something to
eat and drink; but she would listen to nothing. However, he
was not easily got rid of; and at last she said, "I think I
will take pity on you this once: but if I do you must dig
over all my garden for me in the morning." The soldier
agreed very willingly to anything she asked, and he became
her guest.
The next day he kept his word and dug the garden very
neatly. The job lasted all day: and in the evening, when his
mistress would have sent him away, he said, "I am so tired
of my work that I must beg you to let me stay over the
night." The old lady vowed at first she would not do any
such thing; but after a great deal of talk he carried his point,
agreeing to chop up a whole cart-load of wood for her the
next day.
This task too was duly ended; but not till towards night;
and then he found himself so tired, that he begged a third
night's rest: and this too was given, but only on his pledging
his word that next day he would fetch the witch the blue
light that burned at the bottom of the well.
'54
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The Blue Light
When morning came she led him to the well's mouth,
tied him to a long rope, and let him down. At the bottom
sure enough he found the blue light as the witch had said,
and at once made the signal for her to draw him up again.
But when she had pulled him up so near to the top that
she could reach him with her hands, she said, "Give me the
light, I will take care of it," meaning to play him a trick,
by taking it for herself and letting him fall again to the
bottom of the well. But the soldier saw through her wicked
thoughts, and said, "No, I will not give you the light till
I find myself safe and sound out of the well." At this she
became very angry, and dashed him, with the light she had
longed for for many a year, down to the bottom. And there
lay the poor soldier for awhile in despair, on the mud below,
and feared that his end was nigh. But his pipe happened
to be in his pocket still half-full, and he thought to himself,
"I may as well make an end of smoking you out; it is the
last pleasure I shall have in this world." So he lit it at the
blue light and began to smoke.
Up rose a cloud of smoke, and on a sudden a little black
dwarf was seen making his way through the midst of it.
"What do you want with me, soldier?" said he. "I have
no business with you," answered he. But the dwarf said,
"I am bound to serve you in everything, as lord and master
of the blue light." "Then, first of all, be so good as to help
me out of this well." No sooner said than done: the dwarf
took him by the hand and drew him up, and the blue light
of course with him. Now do me another piece of kindness,"
said the soldier: "pray let that old lady take my place in the
well." When the dwarf had done this, and lodged the witch
safely at the bottom, they began to ransack her treasures; and
the soldier made bold to carry off as much of her gold and silver
as he well could. Then the dwarf said, If you should chance
at any time to want me, you have nothing to do but to light
your pipe at the blue light, and I will soon be with you,"
'55
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Grimm's Fairy Tales
The soldier was not a little pleased at his good luck, and
went into the best inn in the first town he came to, and
ordered some fine clothes to be made and a handsome room
to be got ready for him. When all was ready, he called his
little man to him, and said, "The king sent me away penni-
less, and left me to hunger and want: I have a mind to show
him that it is my turn to be master now; so bring me his
daughter here this evening, that she may wait upon me, and
do what I bid her." "That is rather a dangerous task," said
the dwarf. But away he went, took the princess out of her
bed, fast asleep as she was, and brought her to the soldier.
Very early in the morning he carried her back: and as
soon as she saw her father, she said, "I had a strange dream
last night: I thought I was carried away through the air to
a soldier's house, and there I waited upon him as his servant."
Then the king wondered greatly at such a story; but told her
to make a hole in her pocket and fill it with peas, so that if
it were really as she said, and the whole was not a dream,
the peas might fall out in the streets she passed through, and
leave a clue to tell whither she had been taken. She did so:
but the dwarf had heard the king's plot: and when evening
came, and the "soldier said he must bring him the princess
again, he strewed peas over several of the streets, so that the
few that fell from her pocket were not known from the others;
and the people amused themselves all the next day picking
up peas, and wondering where so many came from.
When the princess told her father what had happened to
her the second time, he said, "Take one of your shoes with
you, and hide it in the room you are taken to." The dwarf
heard this also; and when the soldier told him to bring the
king's daughter again, he said, "I cannot save you this time;
it will be an unlucky thing for you if you are found out,-as I
think you will be." But the soldier would have his own way.
" Then you must take care and make the best of your way
out of the city gate very early in the morning," said the dwarf.
j56
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I II
* i I '
I
A Black Dwarf appears in the Smoke
177 00191.jpg
Grimm's Fairy Tales
The princess kept one shoe on as her father bid her, and hid
it in the soldier's room: and when she got back to her father,
he ordered it to be sought for all over the town; and at last
it was found where she had hid it. The soldier had run
away, it is true! but he had been too slow, and was soon
caught and thrown into a strong prison, and loaded with
chains:-what was worse, in the hurry of his flight, he had
left behind him his great treasure the blue light and all his
gold, and had nothing left in his pocket but one poor ducat.
As he was standing very sorrowful at the prison grating,
he saw one of his comrades, and calling out to him said, "If
you will bring me a little bundle I left in the inn, I will give
you a ducat." His comrade thought this very good pay for
such a job: so he went away, and soon came back bringing
the blue light and the gold. Then the prisoner soon lit his
pipe: up rose the smoke, and with it came his old friend the
little dwarf. "Do not fear, master," said he; "keep up your
heart at your trial and leave everything to take its course;-
only mind to take the blue light with you." The trial soon
came on; the matter was sifted to the bottom; the prisoner
found guilty, and his doom passed: he was ordered to be
hanged forthwith on the gallows-tree.
But as he was led out, he said he had one favour to beg
of the king. "What is it?" said his Majesty. "That you
will deign to let me smoke one pipe on the road." "Two if
you like," said the king. Then he lit his pipe at the blue
light, and the black dwarf was before him in a moment. f Be
so good as to kill, slay, or put to flight all these people," said
the soldier: "and as for the king, you may cut him into three
pieces." Then the dwarf began to lay about him, and soon
got rid of the crowd around: but the king begged hard for
mercy; and to save his life, agreed to let the soldier have the
princess for his wife, and to leave the kingdom to him when
he died.
The Crows and the Soldier
178 00192.jpg
The prows and the Soldier
A WORTHY soldier had saved a good deal of money out of his
pay; for he worked hard, and did not spend all he earned in
eating and drinking, as many others do. Now he had two
comrades who were great rogues, and wanted to rob him of
his money, but behaved outwardly towards him in a friendly
way. Comrade," said they to him one day, why should we
stay here shut up in this town like prisoners, when you at any
rate have earned enough to live upon for the rest of your days
in peace and plenty at home by your own fireside?" They
talked so often to him in this manner, that he at last said he
would go and try his luck with them; but they all the time
thought of nothing but how they should manage to steal his
money from him.
When they had gone a little way, the two rogues said,
"We must go by the right-hand road, for that will take us
quickest into another country where we shall be safe." Now
they knew all the while that what they were saying was un-
true; and as soon as the soldier said, No, that will take us
straight back into the town we came from; we must keep on
the left hand;" they picked a quarrel with him, and said,
" What do you give yourself airs for? you know nothing about
it:" and then they fell upon him and knocked him down, and
beat him over the head till he was blind. Then they took all
the money out of his pockets and dragged him to a gallows-
tree that stood hard by, bound him fast down at the foot of it,
and went back into the town with the money: but the poor
blind man did not know where he was; and he felt all around
him, and finding that he was bound to a large beam of wood,
thought it was a cross, and said, "After all, they have done
179 00193.jpg
Grimm's Fairy Tales
kindly in leaving me under a cross: now Heaven will guard
me;" so he raised himself up and began to pray.
When night came on, he heard something fluttering over
his head. It turned out to be three crows, who flew round
and round, and at last perched upon the tree. By and by
they began to talk together, and he heard one of them say,
"Sister, what is the best news with you to-day?" "Oh, if
men knew what we know!" said the other; "the princess is
ill, and the king has vowed to marry her to anyone who will
cure her: but this none can do, for she will not be well until
yonder flower is burnt to ashes and swallowed by her." "Oh,
indeed," said the other, crow, if men did but know what we
know! to-night will fall from heaven a dew of such healing
power, that even the blind man who washes his eyes with
it will see again;" and the third spoke, and said, Oh, if men
knew what we know! the flower is wanted but for one, the
dew is wanted but for few; but there is a great dearth of
water in the town; all the wells are dried up; and no one
knows that they must take away the large square stone out of
the market-place, and dig underneath it, and that then the
finest water will spring up."
When the three crows had done talking, he heard them
fluttering round again, and at last away they flew. Greatly
wondering at what he had heard, and overjoyed at the thoughts
of getting his sight, he tried with all his strength to break
loose from his bonds; at last he found himself free, and
plucked some of the grass that grew beneath him and washed
his eyes with the dew that had fallen upon it. At once his
eyesight came to him again, and he saw by the light of the
moon and the stars that he was beneath the gallows-tree, and
not the cross, as he had thought. Then he gathered together
in a bottle as much of the dew as' he could to take away with
him, and looked around till he saw the flower that grew close
by; and when he had burned it he gathered up the ashes, and
set out on his way towards the king's court.
16o
180 00194.jpg
7 S,a
C y4w,
C-F ,")
) I.'
The Soldier marries the Princess
(B 200)
181 00195.jpg
Grimm's Fairy Tales
When he reached the palace, he told the king he was come
to cure the princess; and when she had taken of the ashes and
been made well, he claimed her for his wife, as the reward that
was to be given; but the king, looking upon him and seeing
that his clothes were so shabby, would not keep his word, and
thought to get rid of him by saying, Whoever wants to have
the princess for his wife, must find enough water for the use of
the town, where there is this summer a great dearth." Then
the soldier went out and told the people to take up the square
stone in the market-place and dig for water underneath; and
when they had done so there came up a fine spring, that gave
enough water for the whole town. So the king could no
longer get off giving him his daughter, and they were married
and lived happily together.
Some time after, as he was walking one day through a
field, he met his two wicked comrades who had treated him
so basely. Though they did not know him, he knew them at
once, and went up to them and said, Look upon me, I am
your old comrade whom you beat and robbed and left blind;
Heaven has defeated your wicked wishes, and turned all the
mischief which you brought upon me into good luck." When
they heard this they fell at his feet and begged for pardon,
and he had a kind and good heart, so he forgave them, and
took them to his palace and gave them food and clothes.
And he told them all that happened to him, and how he had
reached these honours. After they had heard the whole story
they said to themselves, Why should not we go and sit some
night under the gallows? we may hear something that will
bring us good luck too."
Next night they stole away; and when they had sat
under the tree a little while, they heard a fluttering noise over
their heads; and the three crows came and perched upon
it. "Sisters," said one of them, "someone must have over-
heard us, for all the world is talking of the wonderful things
that have happened: the princess is well; the flower has been
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The Crows and the Soldier
plucked and burnt; a blind man's sight has been given him
again; and they have dug a fresh well that gives water to the
whole town: let us look about, perhaps we may find someone
near; if we do he shall rue the day." Then they began to
flutter about, and soon found out the two men below, and flew
at them in a rage, beating and pecking them in the face with
their wings and beaks till they were quite blind, and lay nearly
dead upon the ground under the gallows. The next day
passed over and they did not return to the palace; and their
old comrade began to wonder where they had been, and went
out the following morning in search of them, and at last found
them where they lay, dreadfully repaid for all their folly and
baseness.
The Golden Goose
183 00197.jpg
The Golden Goose
THERE was once a man who had three sons. The youngest
was called Dummling, and was on all occasions despised
and ill-treated by the whole family. It happened that the
eldest took it into his head one day to go into the wood
to cut fuel; and his mother gave him a delicious pasty and
a bottle of wine to take with him, that he might refresh
himself at his work. As he went into the wood, a little old
man bid him good-day, and said, "Give me a little piece
of meat from your plate, and a little wine out of your bottle;
I am very hungry and thirsty." But this clever young man
said, "Give you my meat and wine! No, I thank you; I
should not have enough left for myself," and away he went.
He soon began to cut down a tree; but he had not worked
long before he missed his stroke, and cut himself, and was
obliged to go home to have the wound dressed. Now it
was the little old man that caused him this mischief.
Next went out the second son to work; and his mother
gave him, too, a pasty and a bottle of wine. And the same
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The Golden Goose
little old man met him also, and asked him for something
to eat and drink. But he, too, thought himself vastly clever,
and said, "Whatever you get, I shall lose; so go your way!"
The little man took care that he should have his reward;
and the second stroke that he aimed against a tree, hit him
on the leg; so that he, too, was forced to go home.
Then Dummling said, "Father, I, too, should like to go
and cut wood." But his father answered, "Your brothers
have both lamed themselves; you had better stay at home,
for you know nothing of the business." But Dummling was
very pressing; and at last his father said, "Go your way,
you will be wiser when you have suffered for your folly."
And his mother gave him only some dry bread, and a bottle
of sour beer; but when he went into the wood, he met the
little old man, who said, "Give me some meat and drink,
for I am very hungry and thirsty." Dummling said, I
have only dry bread and sour beer; if that will suit you,
we will sit down and eat it together." So they sat down,
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Grimm's Fairy Tales
and when the lad pulled out his bread, behold, it was turned
into a capital pasty, and his sour beer became delightful
wine. They ate and drank heartily; and when they had
done, the little man said, "As you have a kind heart, and
have been willing to share everything with me, I will send
a blessing upon you. There stands an old tree, cut it down
and you will find something at the root." Then he took
his leave, and went his way.
Dummling set to work, and cut down the tree; and when
it fell, he found in a hollow under the roots a goose with
feathers of pure gold. He took it up, and went on to an
inn, where he proposed to sleep for the night. The landlord
had three daughters; and when they saw the goose, they
were very curious to examine what this wonderful bird could
be, and wished very much to pluck one of the feathers out
of its tail. At last the eldest said, "I must and will have
a feather." So she waited till Dummling's back was turned,
and then seized the goose by the wing; but to her great
surprise there she stuck, for neither hand nor finger could
she get away again. Presently in came the second sister,
and thought to have a feather too; but the moment she
touched her sister, there she too hung fast. At last came
the third, and wanted a feather; but the other two cried out,
"Keep away! for heaven's sake, keep away!" However,
she did not understand what they meant. "If they are
there," thought she, "I may as well be there too." So she
went up to them; but the moment she touched her sisters
she stuck fast. And so they kept company with the goose
all night.
The next morning Dummling carried off the goose under
his arm, and took no notice of the three girls, but went out
with them sticking fast behind; and wherever he travelled,
they were obliged to follow, whether they would or not, as
fast as their legs could carry them.
In the middle of a field the parson met them; and
166
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: -'. ',,." "
-, .. ... .." I "
01.
The Sisters follow Dummling and his Goose
187 00202.jpg
The Golden Goose
when he saw the train, he said, "Are you not ashamed of
yourselves, you bold girls, to run after the young man in
that way over the fields? Is that proper behaviour?" Then
he took the youngest by the hand to lead her away; but
the moment he touched her he too hung fast, and followed
in the train. Presently up came the clerk; and when he
saw his master the parson running after the three girls, he
wondered greatly, and said, "Hollo! hollo! your reverence!
whither away so fast? There is a christening to-day." Then
he ran up, and todk him by the gown, and in a moment he
was fast also. As the five were thus trudging along, one
behind another, they met two labourers with their mattocks
coming from work; and the parson cried out to them to
set him free. But scarcely had they touched him, when
they too fell into the ranks, and so made seven, all running
after Dummling and his goose.
At last they arrived at a city, where reigned a king who
had an only daughter. The princess was of so thoughtful
and serious a turn of mind that no one could make her laugh;
and the king had proclaimed to all the world, that whoever
could make her laugh should have her for his wife. When
Dummling heard this, he went to her with his goose and
all its train; and as soon as she saw the seven all hanging
together, and running about, treading on each other's heels,
she could not help bursting into a long and loud laugh.
Then Dummling claimed her for his wife. The wedding
was celebrated, and he was heir to the kingdom, and lived
long and happily with his wife.
The Juniper-tree
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The Juniper-Tree
A LONG while ago, perhaps as much as two thousand years,
there was a rich man who had a wife of whom he was very
fond; but they had no children. Now in the garden before
the house where they lived there stood a juniper-tree; and
one winter's day as the lady was standing under the juniper-
tree, paring an apple, she cut her finger, and the drops of
blood trickled down upon the snow. "Ah!" said she, sigh-
ing deeply and looking down upon the blood, "how happy
should I be if I had a little child as white as snow and as
red as blood!" And as she was saying this, she grew quite
cheerful, and was sure her wish would be fulfilled. And after
a little time the snow went away, and soon afterwards the
fields began to look green. Next the spring came, and the
meadows were dressed with flowers; the trees put forth their
green leaves; the young branches shed their blossoms upon
the ground; and the little birds sang. through the groves.
And then came summer, and the sweet-smelling flowers of
the juniper-tree began to unfold; and the lady's heart leaped
within her, and she fell on her knees for joy. But when
autumn drew near, the fruit was thick upon the trees. Then
the lady plucked the red berries from the juniper-tree, and
looked sad and sorrowful; and she called her husband to
her, and said, "If I die, bury me under the juniper-tree."
Not long after this a pretty little child was born; it was, as
the lady wished, as red as blood and as white as snow; and
as soon as she had looked upon it, her joy overcame her,
and she fainted away and died.
Then her husband buried her under the juniper-tree, and
wept and mourned over her. But after a little while he grew
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The Juniper-Tree
better, and at length dried up his tears, and married another
wife.
Time passed on, and a daughter was born to him; the
child of the first wife, that was as red as blood and as white
as snow, was a little boy. The mother loved her daughter
very much, but hated the little boy, and bethought herself
how she might get all her husband's money for her own
child; so she used the poor fellow very harshly, and was
always pushing him about from one corner of the house
to another, and thumping him one while and pinching him
another, so that he was for ever in fear of her, and when he
came home from school could never find a place in the house
to play in.
Now it happened that once, when the mother was going
into her store-room, the little girl came up to her, and said,
"Mother, may I have an apple?" Yes, my dear," said she,
and gave her a nice rosy apple out of the chest. Now you
must know that this chest had a very thick heavy lid, with
a great sharp iron lock upon it. "Mother," said the little
girl, "pray give me one for my little brother too." Her
mother did not much like this; however, she said, "Yes, my
child; when he comes from school, he shall have one too."
As she was speaking, she looked out of the window and
saw the little boy coming; so she took the apple from her
daughter, and threw it back into the chest and shut the lid,
telling her that she should have it again when her brother
came home. When the little boy came to the door, this
wicked woman said to him with a kind voice, "Come in,
my dear, and I will give you an apple." "How kind you
are, mother!" said the little boy; "I should like to have an
apple very much." "Well, come with me then," said she.
So she took him into the store-room and lifted up the cover
of the chest, and said, "There, take one out yourself;" and
then, as the little boy stooped down to reach one of the
apples out of the chest, bang! she let the lid fall, so hard
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that his head fell off amongst the apples. When she found
what she had done, she was very much frightened, and did
not know how she should get the blame off her shoulders.
However, she went into her bedroom, and took a white
handkerchief out of a drawer, and then fitted the little boy's
head upon his neck, and tied the handkerchief round it, so
that no one could see what had happened, and seated him
on a stool before the door with the apple in his hand.
Soon afterwards Margery came into the kitchen to her
mother, who was standing by the fire, and stirring about
some hot water in a pot. "Mother," said Margery, "my
brother is sitting before the door with an apple in his hand.
I asked him to give it me, but he did not say a word, and
looked so pale that I was quite frightened." "Nonsense!"
said her mother; "go back again, and if he won't answer
you, give him a good box on the ear." Margery went back
and said, "Brother, give me that apple." But he answered
not a word; so she gave him a box on the ear; and imme-
diately his head fell off. At this, you may be sure, she was
sadly frightened, and ran screaming out to her mother that
she had knocked off her brother's head, and cried as if her
heart would break. "Oh, Margery!" said her mother, "what
have you been doing? However, what is done cannot be
undone; so we had better put him out of the way, and say
nothing to anyone about it."
When the father came home to dinner, he said, "Where
is my little boy?" And his wife said nothing, but put a large
dish of black soup upon the table; and Margery wept bitterly
all the time, and could not hold up her head. And the father
asked after his little boy again. "Oh," said his wife, I should
think he is gone to his uncle's." "What business could he
have to go away without bidding me good-bye?" said his
father. "I know he wished very much to go," said the
woman; "and begged me to let him stay there some time;
he will be well taken care of there." "Ah," said the father,
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He reaches down to take an apple
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Grimm's Fairy Tales
"I don't like that; he ought not to have gone away without
wishing me good-bye." And with that he began to eat; but
he seemed still sorrowful about his son, and said, Margery,
what do you cry so for? your brother will come back again,
I hope."
But Margery by and by slipped out of the room and went
to her drawers and took her best silk handkerchief out of
them, and tying it round her little brother's bones, carried
them out of the house, weeping bitterly all the while, and
laid them under the juniper-tree; and as soon as she had
done this, her heart felt lighter, and she left off crying.
Then the juniper-tree began to move itself backwards and
forwards, and to stretch its branches out, one from another,
and then bringing them together again, just like a person
clapping hands for joy: and after this, a kind of cloud came
from the tree, and in the middle of the cloud was a burning
fire, and out of the fire came a pretty bird, that flew away
into the air, singing merrily. And as soon as the bird was
gone, the handkerchief and the little boy were gone too, and
the tree looked just as it had done before'; but Margery
felt quite happy and joyful within herself, just as if she had
known that her brother had been alive again, and went into
the house and ate her dinner.
But the bird flew away, and perched upon the roof of a
goldsmith's house, and sang:
"My mother slew her little son;
My father thought me lost and gone:
But pretty Margery pitied me,
And laid me under the juniper-tree;
And now I rove so merrily,
As over the hills and dales I fly:
Oh what a fine bird am Il"
The goldsmith was sitting in his shop finishing a gold
chain; and when he heard the bird singing on the house-top,
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The Juniper-Tree
he started up so suddenly that one of his shoes slipped off;
however, without stopping to put it on again, he ran out into
the street with his apron on, holding his pincers in one hand,
and the gold chain in the other. And when he saw the bird
sitting on the roof with the sun shining on its bright feathers,
he said, How sweetly you sing, my pretty bird! pray sing
that song again." "No," said the bird, "I can't sing twice
for nothing; if you will give me that gold chain, I'll try what
I can do." "There," said the goldsmith, "take the chain,
only pray sing that song again." So the bird flew down, and
taking the chain in its right claw, perched a little nearer to
the goldsmith, and sang:
"My mother slew her little son;
My father thought me lost and gone:
But pretty Margery pitied me,
And laid me under the juniper-tree;
And now I rove so merrily,
As over the hills and dales I fly:
Oh what a fine bird am I "
After that the bird flew away to a shoemaker's, and sitting
upon the roof of the house, sang the same song as it had done
before.
When the shoemaker heard the song, he ran to the door
without his coat, and looked up to the top of the house; but
he was obliged to hold his hand before his eyes, because the
sun shone so brightly. "Bird," said he, "how sweetly you
sing!" Then he called into the house, "Wifel wife! come
out here, and see what a pretty bird is singing on the top
of our house!" and he called out his children and workmen;
and they all ran out and stood gazing at the bird, with its
beautiful red and green feathers, and the bright golden ring
about its neck, and eyes which glittered like the stars. "0
bird!" said the shoemaker, "pray sing that song again."
"No," said the bird, "I cannot sing twice for nothing; you
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must give me something if I do." "Wife," said the shoe-
maker, "run upstairs into the workshop, and bring me down
the best pair of new red shoes you can find." So his wife
ran and fetched them. "Here, my pretty bird," said the
shoemaker, "take these shoes; but pray sing that song
again." The bird came down, and taking the shoes in. his
left claw, flew up again to the house-top, and sang:
"My mother slew her little son;
My father thought me lost and gone:
But pretty Margery pitied me,
And laid me under the juniper-tree;
And now I rove so merrily,
As over the hills and dales I fly:
Oh what a fine bird am I I"
And when he had done singing, he flew away, holding the
shoes in one claw and the chain in the other. And he flew
a long long way off, till at last he came to a mill. The mill
was going "Clipper, clapper! clipper, clapper!" and in the
mill were twenty millers, who were all hard at work hewing
a millstone; and the millers hewed, Hick, hack! hick, hack!"
and the mill went on, "Clipper, clapper! clipper, clapper!"
So the bird perched upon a linden-tree close by the mill,
and began its song:
"My mother slew her little son;
My father thought me lost and gone:"-
Here two of the millers left off their work and listened.
"But pretty Margery pitied me,
And laid me under the juniper-tree;"-
Now all the millers but one looked up and left their work.
"And now I rove so merrily,
As over the hills and dales I fly:
Oh what a fine bird am I I"
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The Juniper-Tree
Just as the song was ended, the last miller heard it, and
started up, and said, "O bird! how sweetly you sing! do let
me hear the whole of that song; pray, sing it again!" "No,"
said the bird, I cannot sing twice for nothing; give me that
millstone, and I'll sing again." "Why," said the man, "the
millstone does not belong to me; if it was all mine, you
should have it and welcome." "Come," said the other
millers, if he will only sing that song again, he shall have
the millstone." Then the bird came down from the tree:
and the twenty millers fetched long poles and worked and
worked, "Heave ho! heave ho!" till at last they raised the
millstone on its side; and then the bird put its head through
the hole in the middle of it, and flew away to the linden-tree,
and sang the same song as it had done before.
And when he had done he spread his wings, and with the
chain in one claw, and the shoes in the other, and the mill-
stone about his neck, he flew away to his father's house.
Now it happened that his father and mother and Margery
were sitting together at dinner. His father was saying, How
light and cheerful I am!" But his mother said, "Oh, I am so
heavy and so sad; I feel just as if a great storm was coming
on." And Margery said nothing, but sat and cried. Just
then the bird came flying along, and perched upon the top of
the house; "Bless me!" said the father, "how cheerful I am;
I feel as if I were about to see an old friend again." "Alas!"
said the mother, I am so sad, and my teeth chatter so, and
yet it seems as if my blood was all on fire in my veins!" and
she tore open her gown to cool herself. And Margery sat by
herself in a corner, with her plate on her lap before her, and
wept so bitterly that she cried her plate quite full of tears.
And the bird flew to the top of the juniper-tree and sang:
"My mother slew her little son;"-
Then the mother held her ears with her hands, and shut her
eyes close, that she might neither see nor hear; but there was
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Grimm's Fairy Tales
a sound in her ears like a frightful storm, and her eyes turned
and glared like lightning.
"My father thought me lost and gone:"-
"0 wife!" said the father, "what a beautiful bird that is, and
how finely he sings; and his feathers glitter in the sun like so
many spangles!"
"But pretty Margery pitied me,
And laid me under the juniper-tree ;"-
At this Margery lifted up her head and sobbed sadly, and
her father said, "I must go out and look at that bird a little
nearer." "Oh! don't leave me alone," said his wife; "I feel
just as if the house were burning." However, he would go
out to look at the bird; and it went on singing:
"But now I rove so merrily,
As over the hills and dales I fly:
Oh what a fine bird am I!"
As soon as the bird had done singing, he let fall the gold
chain upon his father's neck, and it fitted so nicely that he
went back into the house and said, Look here, what a beauti-
ful chain the bird has given me; only see how grand it is!"
But his wife was so frightened that she fell all along on the
floor, so that her cap flew off, and she lay as if she were dead.
And when the bird began singing again, Margery said, "I
must go out and see whether the bird has not something to
give me." And just as she was going out of the door, the
bird let fall the red shoes before her; and when she had put
on the shoes, she all at once became quite light and happy,
and jumped into the house and said, "I was so heavy and
sad when I went out, and now I am so happy! see what fine
shoes the bird has given me!" Then the mother said, Well,
if the world should fall to pieces, I must go out and try
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The Juniper-Tree
whether I shall not be better in the air." And as she was
going out, the bird let fall the millstone upon her head and
crushed her to pieces.
The father and Margery, hearing the noise, ran out, and
saw nothing but smoke and fire and flame rising up from the
place; and when this was past and gone, there stood the little
boy beside them; and he took his father and Margery by the
hand, and they went into the house, and ate their dinner
together very happily.
(B2s00)
Hans and His Wife Grettel
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Hans and his Wife Grettel
SHOWING WHO GRETTEL WAS
THERE was once a little maid named Grettel; she wore shoes
with red heels, and when she went abroad, she turned out her
toes, and was very merry, and thought to herself, "What a
pretty girl I am!" And when she came home, to put herself
in good spirits, she would tipple down a drop or two of wine;
and as wine gives a relish for eating, she would take a taste
of everything when she was cooking, saying, "A cook ought
to know whether a thing tastes well." It happened one day
that her master said, "Grettel, this evening I have a friend
coming to sup with me; get two fine fowls ready." "Very
well, sir," said Grettel. Then she killed the fowls, plucked,
and trussed them, put them on the spit, and when evening
came put them to the fire to roast. The fowls turned round
and round, and soon began to look nice and brown, but the
guest did not come. Then Grettel cried out, Master, if the
guest does not come I must take up the fowls; but it will be
a shame and a pity if they are not eaten while they are hot
and good." "Well," said her master, I'll run and tell him to
come." As soon as he had turned his back, Grettel stopped
the spit, and laid it with the fowls upon it on one side, and
thought to herself, Standing by the fire makes one very tired
and thirsty; who knows how long they will be? meanwhile
I will just step into the cellar and take a drop." So off she
ran, put down her pitcher, and said, "Your health, Grettel,"
and took a good draught. "This wine is a good friend," said
she to herself, "it breaks one's heart to leave it." Then up
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Hans and his Wife Grettel
she trotted, put the fowls down to the fire, spread some butter
over them, and turned the spit merrily round again.
The fowls soon smelt so good, that she thought to herself,
"They are very good, but they may want something more
still; I had better taste them and see." So she licked her
fingers, and said, Oh! how good! what a shame and a pity
that they are not eaten!" Away she ran to the window to
see if her master and his friend were coming; but nobody
was in sight: so she turned to the fowls again, and thought it
would be better for her to eat a wing than that it should be
burnt. So she cut one wing off, and ate it, and it tasted very
well; and as the other was quite done enough, she thought
it had better be cut off too, or else her master would see
one was wanting. When the two wings were gone, she
went again to look out for her master, but could not see him.
"Ah!" thought she to herself, "who knows whether they will
come at all? very likely they have turned into some tavern:
O Grettel! Grettel! make yourself happy, take another
draught, and eat the rest of the fowl; it looks so oddly as it
is; when you have eaten all, you will be easy: why should
such good things be wasted?" So she ran once more to the
cellar, took another drink, and ate up the rest of the fowl with
the greatest glee.
Still her master did not come, and she cast a lingering
eye upon the other fowl, and said, "Where the other went,
this had better go too; they belong to each other; they who
have a right to one must have a right to the other; but if I
were to take another draught first, it would not hurt me."
So she tippled down another drop of wine, and sent the
second fowl to look after the first. While she was making
an end of this famous meal, her master came home and called
out, Now, quick, Grettel, my friend is just at hand!" "Yes,
master, I will dish up this minute," said she. In the mean-
time he looked to see if the cloth was laid, and took up the
carving-knife to sharpen it. Whilst this was going on, the
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guest came and knocked softly and gently at the house door;
then Grettel ran to see who was there, and when she saw him
she put her finger upon her lips, and said, Hush! hush! run
away as fast as you can, for if my master catches you, it will
be worse for you; he owes you a grudge, and asked you to
supper only that he might cut off your ears; only listen how
he is sharpening his knife." The guest listened, and when he
heard the knife, he made as much haste as he could down the
steps and ran off. Grettel was not idle in the meantime, but
ran screaming, "Master! master! what a fine guest you have
asked to supper!" "Why, Grettel, what's the matter?"
"Oh!" said she, "he has taken both the fowls that I was
going to bring up, and has run away with them." "That is a
rascally trick to play," said the master, sorry to lose the fine
chickens; "at least he might have left me one, that I might
have had something to eat; call out to him to stay." But the
guest would not hear: so he ran after him with his knife in
his hand, crying out, Only one, only one, I want only one;"
meaning that the guest should leave him one of the fowls, and
not take both. But the guest thought that his host meant
nothing less than that he would cut off at least one of his
ears; so he ran away to save them both, as if he had hot
coals under his feet.
HANS IN. LOVE
Hans's mother says to him, Whither so fast?" "To see
Grettel," says Hans. "Behave well." "Very well: Good-bye,
mother!" Hans comes to Grettel; "Good-day, Grettel!"
"Good-day, Hans! do you bring me anything good?" "No-
thing at all: have you anything for me?" Grettel gives Hans
a needle. Hans says, "Good-bye, Grettel!" "Good-bye,
Hans!" Hans takes the needle, sticks it in a truss of hay,
and takes both off home. "Good-evening, mother!" "Good-
evening, Hans! where have you been?" "To see Grettel."
"What did you take her?" "Nothing at all." "What did
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Hans and his Wife Grettel
she give you?" "She gave me a needle." "Where is it,
Hans?" "Stuck in the truss." "How silly you are! you
should have stuck it in your sleeve." "Let me alone! I'll do
better next time."
"Where now, Hans?" "To see Grettel, mother." "Be-
have yourself well." "Very well: Good-bye, mother!" Hans
comes to Grettel; "Good-day, Grettel!" "Good-day, Hans!
what have you brought me?" "Nothing at all: have you
anything for me?" Grettel gives Hans a knife. "Good-bye,
Grettel!" "Good-bye, Hans!" Hans takes the knife, sticks
it in his sleeve, and goes home. "Good-evening, mother!"
"Good-evening, Hans! where have you been?" "To see
Grettel." "What did you carry her?" "Nothing at all."
"What has she given you?" "A knife." "Where is the
knife, Hans?" "Stuck in my sleeve, mother." "You silly
goose! you should have put it in your pocket." "Let me
alone! I'll do better next time."
"Where now, Hans?" "To see Grettel." Behave your-
self well." "Very well: Good-bye, mother!" Hans comes
to Grettel; "Good-day, Grettel!" "Good-day, Hans! have
you anything good?" "No: have you anything for me?"
Grettel gives Hans a kid. "Good-bye, Grettel!" "Good-
bye, Hans!" Hans takes the kid, ties it up with a cord, stuffs
it into his pocket, and chokes it to death. "Good-evening,
mother!" "Good-evening, Hansl where have you been?"
"To see Grettel, mother!" "What did you take her?" "No-
thing at all." "What did she give you?" "She gave me a
kid." "Where is the kid, Hans?" "Safe in my pocket."
"You silly goose! you should have led it with a string."
"Never mind, mother! I'll do better next time."
"Where now, Hans?" "To Grettel's, mother." "Behave
well." Quite well, mother: Good-bye!" Hans comes to
Grettel; "Good-day, Grettel!" "Good-day, Hans what have
you brought me?" "Nothing at all; have you anything for
me?" Grettel gives Hans a piece of bacon; Hans ties the
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bacon to a string and drags it behind him; the dog comes
after and eats it all up as he walks home. "Good-evening,
mother!" "Good-evening, Hans! where have you been?"
"To Grettel's." "What did you take her?" "Nothing at all."
"What did she give you?" "A piece of bacon." "Where is
the bacon, Hans?" "Tied to the string, and dragged home,
but somehow or other all gone." What a silly trick, Hans!
you should have brought it on your head." "Never mind,
mother! I'll do better another time."
"Where now, Hans?" "Going to Grettel." "Take care
of yourself." "Very well, mother: Good-bye." Hans comes
to Grettel; "Good-day, Grettel!" "Good-day, Hans! what
have you brought me?" "Nothing: have you anything for
me?" Grettel gives Hans a calf. Hans sets it upon his
head, and it kicks him in the face. "Good-evening, mother!"
"Good-evening, Hans! where have you been?" "To see
Grettel." "What did you take her?" Nothing." What
did she give you?" "She gave me a calf." "Where is the
calf, Hans?" "I put it on my head, and it scratched my
face." "You silly goose! you should have led it home and
put it in the stall." "Very well; I'll do better another time."
"Where now, Hans?" "To see Grettel." "Mind and
behave well." "Good-bye, mother!" Hans comes to Grettel;
"Good-day, Grettel!" "Good-day, Hans! what have you
brought?" "Nothing at all: have you anything for me?"
"I'll go home with you." Hans ties a string round her neck,
leads her along, and ties her up in the stall. "Good-evening,
mother!" "Good-evening, Hans! where have you been?"
"At Grettel's." "What has she given you?" "She has come
herself." "Where have you put her?" "Fast in the stall
with plenty of hay." "How silly you are you should have
taken good care of her, and brought her home." Then Hans
went back to the stall; but Grettel was in a great rage, and
had got loose and run away; yet, after all, she was Hans's
bride.
.
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Hans and his Wife Grettel
HANS MARRIED
Hans and Grettel lived in the village together, but Grettel
did as she pleased, and was so lazy that she would never
work; and when her husband gave her any yar to spin she
did it in a slovenly way; and when it was spun she did not
wind it on the reel, but left it to lie all tangled about. Hans
sometimes scolded, but she was always beforehand with her
tongue, and said, Why, how should I wind it when I have
no reel? go into the wood and make one." "If that's all,"
said he, "I will go into the wood and cut reel-sticks." Then
Grettel was frightened lest when he had cut the sticks he
should make a reel, and thus she would be forced to wind the
yarn and spin again. So she pondered awhile, till at last a
bright thought came into her head, and she ran slily after her
husband into the wood. As soon as he had got into a tree
and begun to bend down a bough to cut it, she crept into the
bush below, where he could not see her, and sang:
"Bend not the bough;
He who bends it shall die!
Reel not the reel;
He who reels it shall die!"
Hans listened awhile, laid down his axe, and thought to
himself, "What can that be?" "What indeed can it be?"
said he at last; "it is only a singing in your ears. Hans!
pluck up your heart, man!" So he raised up his axe again,
and took hold of the bough, but once more the voice sang:
"Bend not the bough;
He who bends it shall die!
Reel not the reel;
He who reels it shall diel"
Once more he stopped his hand; fear came over him, and
he began pondering what it could mean. After awhile, how-
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ever, he plucked up his courage again, and took up his axe
and began for the third time to cut the wood; again the third
time began the song-
"Bend not the bough;
He who bends it shall diel
Reel not the reel;
He who reels it shall die!"
At this he could hold no longer, down he dropped from
the tree and set off homewards as fast as he could. Away
too ran Grettel by a shorter cut, so as to reach home first,
and when he opened the door met him quite innocently, as
if nothing had happened, and said, "Well! have you brought
a good piece of wood for the reel?" "No," said he, "I see
plainly that no luck comes of that reel;" and then he told
her all that had happened, and left her for that time in peace.
But soon afterwards Hans began again to reproach her
with the untidiness of her house. "Wife," said he, is it not
a sin and a shame that the spun yarn should lie all about in
that way?" "It may be so," said she; "but you know very
well that we have no reel; if it must be done, lie down there
and hold up your hands and legs, and so I'll make a reel of
you, and wind off the yarn into skeins." "Very well," said
Hans (who did not much like the job, but saw no help for
it if his wife was to be set to work); so he did as she said, and
when all was wound, "The yarn is all-in skeins," said he;
"now take care and get up early and heat the water and boil
it well, so that it may be ready for sale." Grettel disliked
this part of the work very much, but said to him, "Very well,
I'll be sure to do it very early to-morrow morning." But all
the time she was thinking to herself what plan she should
take for getting off such work for the future.
Betimes in the morning she got up, made the fire and
put on the boiler; but instead of the yarn she laid a large
ball of tow in it and let it boil. Then she went up to her
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L"
"As she rose the bells jingled"
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husband, who was still in bed, and said to him, "I must go
out, pray look meantime to the yarn in the boiler over the
fire; but do it soon and take good care, for if the cock crows
and you are not looking to it, they say it will turn to tow."
Hans soon after got up that he might run no risk, and went
(but not perhaps as quickly as he might have done) into the
kitchen, and when he lifted up the boiler lid and looked in,
to his great terror nothing was there but a ball of tow. Then
off he slunk as dumb as a mouse, for he thought to himself
that he was to blame for his laziness; and left Grettel to get
on with her yarn and her spinning as fast as she pleased and
no faster.
One day, however, he said to her, "Wife, I must go a little
way this morning; do you go into the field and cut the corn."
"Yes, to be sure, dear Hans!" said she; so when he was gone
she cooked herself a fine mess and took it with her into the
field. When she came into the field, she sat down for a while
and said to herself, "What shall I do? shall I sleep first or
eat first? Heigho! I'll first eat a bit." Then she ate her
dinner heartily, and when she had had enough she said again
to herself, "What shall I do? shall I reap first or sleep first?
Heigho! I'll first sleep a bit." So she laid herself down
among the corn and went fast asleep. By and by Hans came
home, but no Grettel was to be seen, and he said to himself,
"What a clever wife I have! she works so hard that she does
not even come home to her dinner!" Evening came and still
she did not come; then Hans set off to see how much of the
corn was reaped, but there it all stood untouched, and Grettel
lay fast asleep in the middle. So he ran home and got a
string of little bells and tied them quietly round her waist,
and went back and set himself down on his stool and locked
the house door.
At last Grettel woke when it was quite dark, and as she
rose up the bells jingled around her every step she took. At
this she was greatly frightened, and puzzled to tell whether
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Hans and his Wife Grettel
she was really Grettel or not. "Is it I, or is it not?" said she
as she stood doubting what she ought to think. At last, after
she had pondered awhile, she thought to herself, "I will go
home and ask if it is I or not; Hans will know." So she ran
to the house door, and when she found it locked she knocked
at the window and cried out, "Hans! is Grettel within?"
"She is where she ought to be, to be sure," said Hans; "Oh
dear, then!" said she, frightened, "this is not I!" Then away
she went and knocked at the neighbours' doors; but when
they heard her bells rattling no one would let her in, and so
at last off she ran back to the field again.
Rosebud
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Rosebud
ONCE upon a time there lived a king and queen who had no
children; and this they lamented very much. But one day
the queen had a little girl who was so very beautiful that the
king could not cease looking on her for joy, and determined
to hold a great feast. So he invited not only his- relations,
friends, and neighbours, but also the fairies, that they might
be kind and good to his little daughter. Now there were
thirteen fairies in his kingdom, and he had only twelve golden
dishes for them to eat out of, so he was obliged to leave one
of the fairies without an invitation. The rest came, and after
the feast was over they gave all their best gifts to the little
princess: one gave her virtue, another beauty, another riches,
and so on till she had all that was excellent in the world.
When eleven had done blessing her, the thirteenth, who was
very angry because she had not been invited, came in, and de-
termined to take her revenge. So she cried out: "The king's
daughter shall in her fifteenth year be wounded by a spindle,
and fall down dead." But the twelfth, who had not yet given
her gift, said that though the bad wish must be fulfilled, she
could soften it, and that the king's daughter should not die,
but should fall asleep for a hundred years.
The poor king hoped to save his dear child from the
threatened evil, and ordered that all the spindles in the king-
dom should be bought up and destroyed. All the fairies'
good gifts were in the meantime fulfilled; for the princess
was so beautiful, and well-behaved, and amiable, and wise,
that everyone who knew her loved her. Now it happened
that on the very day Rosebud was fifteen years old the king
and queen were not at home, and she was left alone in the
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/
The Wicked Fairy takes her Revenge
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Rosebud
palace. So she roved about by herself, till at last she came
to an old tower, to which there was a narrow staircase ending
with a little door. And when she opened the door there sat
an old lady spinning. "Why, good mother," said the princess,
"what are you doing there?" "Spinning," said the old lady.
"How prettily that little thing turns round!" said the prin-
cess, and took the spindle and began to spin. But scarcely
had she touched it when she pricked her finger and fell down
lifeless on the ground.
She was not dead, however, but had only fallen into a deep
sleep; and the king and the queen, who just then came home,
and all their court, fell asleep too; and the horses slept in the
stables, and the dogs in the court, the pigeons on the house-
top, and the flies on the walls. Even the fire on the hearth
left off blazing, and went to sleep; and the meat that was
roasting stood still; and the cook, who was at that moment
pulling the kitchen-boy by the hair to give him a box on the
ear for something he had done amiss, let him go, and both
fell asleep; and so everything stood still, and slept soundly.
A large hedge of thorns soon grew round the palace, till at
last not even the roof or the chimneys could be seen. But
there went a report through all the land of the beautiful sleep-
ing Rosebud; so that from time to time several princes came,
and tried to break through the thicket. This they could
never do; for they stuck fast in the thorns, and died miserably.
After many, many years there came a prince into that
land, and an old man told him the story of the thicket of
thorns, and how a beautiful palace stood behind it, in which
was a wondrous princess, called Rosebud, asleep with all her
court. He told, too, how he had heard from his grandfather
that many, many princes had come, and had tried to break
through the thicket, but had stuck fast and died. Then the
young prince said: "All this shall not frighten me, I will go
and see Rosebud."
Now that very day were the hundred years completed;
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and as the prince came to the thicket he saw nothing but
beautiful flowering shrubs, through which he passed with ease,
and they closed after him as firm as ever. Then he came at
last to the palace, and there in the court lay the dogs asleep,
and the horses in the stables, and on the roof sat the pigeons
fast asleep with their heads under their wings; and when he
came into the palace, the flies slept on the walls, and the cook
in the kitchen was still holding up her hand as if she would
beat the boy.
Then he went on still farther, and all was so still that he
could hear every breath he drew; till at last he came to the
old tower and opened the door of the little room in which
Rosebud was. There she lay fast asleep, and looked so
beautiful that he could not take his eyes off her, and he
stooped down and gave her a kiss. But the moment he
kissed her she opened her eyes and awoke, and smiled upon
him. Then they went out together, and presently the king
and queen also awoke, and all the court, and they gazed on
each other with great wonder. And the horses got up and
shook themselves, and the dogs jumped about and barked;
the pigeons took their heads from under their wings, and
looked about and flew into the fields; the flies on the walls
buzzed away; the fire in the kitchen blazed up and cooked
the dinner, the roast meat turned round again, and the cook
gave the boy the box on his ear so that he cried out. And
then the wedding of the prince and Rosebud was celebrated,
and they lived happily together all their lives long.
t.O
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The King's Son discovers Rosebud
!
....
The Young Giant and the Tailor
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The Young Giant and the Tailor
A HUSBANDMAN had once a son, who was born no bigger
than my thumb, and for many years did not grow a hair's-
breadth taller. One day as the father was going to plough
in the field, the little fellow said, "Father, let me go too."
"No," said his father; "stay where you are, you can do no
good out-of-doors, and if you go perhaps I may lose you."
Then little Thumbling fell a-crying: and his father, to quiet
him, at last said he might go. So he put him in his pocket,
and when he was in the field pulled him out and set him
upon a newly-made furrow, that he might look about. While
he was sitting there, a great giant came striding over the
hill. "Do you see that tall steeple-man?" said the father:
"he will run away with you." (Now he only said this to
frighten the little boy if he should be naughty.) But the
giant had long legs, and with two or three strides he really
came close to the furrow, and picked up little Thumbling
to look at him; and taking a liking to the little chap went
off with him. The father stood by all the time, but could
not say a word for fright; for he thought his child was really
lost, and that he should never see him again.
But the giant took care of him at his house in the woods,
and laid him in his bosom and fed him with the same food
that he lived on himself. So Thumbling, instead of being
a little dwarf, became like the giant-tall, and stout, and
strong: so that at the end of two years, when the old giant
took him into the wood to try him, and said, "Pull up that
birch-tree for yourself to walk with," the lad was so strong
that he tore it up by the root. The giant thought he should
make him a still stronger man than this: so after taking
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care of him two years more, he took him into the wood to
try his strength again. This time he took hold of one of
the thickest oaks, and pulled it up as if it were mere sport
to him. Then the old giant said, "Well done, my man; you
will do now!" So he carried him back to the field where
he first found him.
His father happened to be just then ploughing, and the
young giant went up to him, saying, "Look here, father,
see who I am;-don't you see I am your son?" But the
husbandman was frightened, and cried out, "No, no, you
are not my son; begone about your business." Indeed, I
am your son; let me plough a little, I can plough as well
as you." "No, go your ways," said the father; but as he
was afraid of the tall man, he at last let go the plough and
sat down on the ground beside it. Then the youth laid
hold of the ploughshare, and though he only pushed with
one hand, he drove it deep into the earth. The ploughman
cried out, "If you must plough, pray do not push so hard;
you are doing more harm than good;" but he took off the
horses, and said, "Father, go home and tell my mother to
get ready a good dinner, I'll go round the field meanwhile."
So he went on driving the plough without any horses, till
he had done two mornings' work by himself; then he
harrowed it, and when all was over, took up plough, harrow,
horses and all, and carried them home like a bundle of straw.
When he reached the house, he sat himself down on the
bench saying, "Now, mother, is dinner ready?" "Yes," said
she, for she dared not deny him; so she brought two large
dishes full, enough to have lasted herself and her husband
eight days! however, he soon ate it all up, and said that
was but a taste. I see very well, father, that I sha'n't get
enough to eat at your house; so if you will give me an
iron walking-stick, so strong that I cannot break it against
my knees, I will go away again." The husbandman very
gladly put his two horses to the cart and drove them to
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The Young Giant and the Tailor
the forge, and brought back a bar of iron as long and as
thick as his two horses could draw; but the lad laid it against
his knee; and snap! it went like a broken beanstalk. "I
see, father," said he, "you can get no stick that will do for
me, so I'll go and try my luck by myself."
Then away he went, and turned blacksmith, and travelled
till he came to a village where lived a miserly smith, who
earned a good deal of money, but kept all he got to himself,
and gave nothing away to anybody. The first thing he did
was to step into the smithy, and ask if the smith did not
want a journeyman. "Ay," said the cunning fellow (as he
looked at him and thought what a stout chap he was, and
how lustily he would work and earn his bread), "what wages
do you ask?" "I want no pay," said he; "but every fort-
night when the other workmen are paid, you shall let me
give you two strokes over the shoulder to amuse myself."
The old smith thought to himself he could bear this very
well, and reckoned on saving a great deal of money; so the
bargain was soon struck.
The next morning the new workman was about to begin
to work; but at the first stroke that he hit, when his master
brought him the iron red-hot, he shivered it in pieces, and
the anvil sunk so deep into the earth, that he could not
get it out again. This made the old fellow very angry;
"Hallo!" cried he, "I can't have you for a workman, you
are too clumsy; we must put an end to our bargain." "Very
well," said the other; "but you must pay for what I have
done, so let me give you only one little stroke, and then
the bargain is all over." So saying, he gave him a thump
that tossed him over a load of hay that stood near. Then
he took the thickest bar of iron on the forge for a walking-
stick, and went on his way.
When he had journeyed some way, he came to a farm-
house, and asked the farmer if he wanted a foreman. The
farmer said, "Yes," and the same wages were agreed upon
(B 200) 93 N
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as before with the blacksmith. The next morning the work-
men were all to go into the wood; but the giant was found
to be fast asleep in his bed when the rest were all up and
ready to start. "Come, get up," said one of them to him,
"it is high time to be stirring; you must go with us." "Go
your way," muttered he sulkily, "I shall have done my work
and got home long before you."
So he lay in bed two hours longer, and at last got up
and cooked and ate his breakfast, and then at his leisure
harnessed his horses to go to the wood. Just before the
wood was a hollow, through which all must pass; so he
drove the cart on first, and built up behind him such a mound
of faggots and briars, that no horse could pass. This done,
he drove on, and as he was going into the wood met the
others coming out on their road home; "Drive away," said
he, "I shall be home before you still." However, he only
went a very little way into the wood and tore up one of
the largest timber trees, put it into his cart, and turned about
homewards. When he came to the pile of faggots, he found
all the others standing there, not being able to pass by.
" So," said he, "you see if you had stayed with me, you would
have been-home just as soon, and might have slept an hour
or two longer." Then he took his tree on one shoulder,
and his cart on the other, and pushed through as easily as
though he were laden with feathers, and when he reached
the yard showed the tree to the farmer, and asked if it was
not a famous walking-stick. "Wife," said the farmer, "this
man is worth something; if he sleeps longer, still he works
better than the rest."
Time rolled on, and he had served the farmer his whole
year; so when his fellow-labourers were paid, he said he also
had a right to take his wages. But great dread came upon
the farmer, at the thought of the blows he was to have, so
he begged him to give up the old bargain, and take his whole
farm and stock instead. "Not I," said he, "I will be no
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---JIL
"See what a fine neck-cloth I have !"
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farmer; I am foreman, and so I mean to remain, and be paid
as we agreed." Finding he could do nothing with him, the
farmer only begged one fortnight's respite, and called together
all his friends, to ask their advice in the matter. They be-
thought themselves for a long time, and at last agreed that
the shortest way was to kill this troublesome foreman. The
next thing was to settle how it was to be done; and it was
agreed that he should be ordered to carry into the yard
some great millstones, and to put them on the edge of a
well; that then he should be sent down to clean out the well,
and when he was at the bottom, the millstones should be
pushed down upon his head.
Everything went right, and when the foreman was safe
in the well, the stones were rolled in. As they struck the
bottom, the water splashed to the very top. Of course they
thought his head must be crushed to pieces; but he only
cried out, "Drive away the chickens from the well; they
are pecking about in the sand above me, and throwing it
into my eyes, so that I cannot see." When his job was
done, up he sprang from the well, saying, "Look here! see
what a fine neck-cloth I have!" as he pointed to one of the
millstones, that had fallen over his head, and hung about
his neck.
The farmer was again overcome with fear, and begged
another fortnight to think of it. So his friends were called
together again, and at last gave this advice: that the fore-
man should be sent and made to grind corn by night at the
haunted mill, whence no man had ever yet come out in the
morning alive. That very evening he was told to carry
eight bushels of corn to the mill, and grind them in the
night. Away he went to the loft, put two bushels in his
right pocket, two in his left, and four in a long sack slung
over his shoulders, and then set off to the mill. The miller
told him he might grind there in the daytime, but not by
night, for the mill was bewitched, and whoever went in at
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The Young Giant and the Tailor
night had been found dead in the morning. "Never mind,
miller, I shall come out safe," said he; "only make haste
and get out of the way, and look out for me in the morn-
ing."
So he went into the mill and put the corn into the hopper,
and about twelve o'clock sat himself down on the bench in
the miller's room. After a little time the door all at once
opened of itself, and in came a large table. On the table
stood wine and meat, and many good things besides: all
seemed placed there by themselves; at any rate there was
no one to be seen. The chairs next moved themselves round
it, but still neither guests nor servants came; till all at once
he saw fingers handling the knives and forks and putting
food on the plates, but still nothing else was to be seen.
Now our friend felt somewhat hungry as he looked at
the dishes, so he sat himself down at the table and ate what-
ever he liked best; and when he had had enough, and the
plates were empty, on a sudden he heard something blow out
the lights. When it was pitch dark he felt a tremendous
blow upon his head; If I get such another box on the ear,"
said he, "I shall just give it back again;" and this he really
did, when the next blow came. Thus the game went on all
night; and he never let fear get the better of him, but kept
dealing his blows round, till at daybreak all was still. "Well,
miller," said he in the morning, I have had some little slaps
in the face, but I've given as good, I'll warrant you; and
meantime I have eaten as much as I liked." The miller
was glad to find the charm was broken, and would have
given him a great deal of money. I want no money, I have
quite enough," said he, as he took the meal on his back,
and went home to his master to claim his wages.
But the farmer was in a rage, knowing there was no help
for him, and paced the room up and down till the drops
of sweat ran down his forehead. Then he opened the window
for a little fresh air, and before he was aware, his foreman.
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gave him the first blow, and kicked him out of the window
over the hills and far away, and next sent his wife after
him; and there, for aught I know, they may be flying in
the air still: but the young giant took up his iron walking-
stick and walked off.
Perhaps this was the same giant that the Bold little
Tailor met, when he set out on his travels, as I will tell
you next.
It was a fine summer morning when this little man bound
his girdle round his body, and looked about his house to
see if there was anything good to take with him on his
journey into the wide world. He could only find an odd
cheese; but that was better than nothing; so he took it
up; and, as he was going out, the old hen met him at the
door, and he packed her too into his wallet with the cheese.
Then off he set, and when he had climbed a high hill, he
found the giant sitting on the top. "Good-day, comrade,"
said he, there you sit at your ease, and look the wide world
over: I have a mind to go and try my luck in that same
world; what do you say to going with me?"
Then the giant looked at him, and said, "You are a poor
trumpery little knave." "That may be," said the tailor;
"but we shall see who is the better man of the two." The
giant finding the little man so bold, began to be a little more
respectful, and said they would soon try who was master.
So he took a large stone in his hand and squeezed it till
water dropped from it; "Do that," said he, "if you have a
mind to be thought a strong man." "Is that all?" said the
tailor; "I will soon do as much." So he put his hand in his
wallet, pulled out the cheese (which was quite new), and
squeezed it till the whey ran out. "What do you say now,
Mr. Giant? my squeeze was a better one than yours."
Then the giant, not seeing that it was only a cheese, did
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The Young Giant and the Tailor
not know what to say for himself, though he could hardly
believe his eyes. At last he took up a stone, and threw it
up so high that it went almost out of sight; "Now then,
little pigmy, do that if you can!" "Very good," said the
other. "Your throw was not a bad one; but after all your
stone fell to the ground; I will throw something that shall
not fall at all." "That you can't do," said the giant. But
the tailor took his old hen out of the wallet, and threw her
up in the air, and she, pleased enough to be set free, flew
away out of sight. Now, comrade," said he, what do you
say to that?" "I say you are a clever hand," said the giant;
"but we will now try how you can work."
Then he led him into the wood, where a fine oak-tree
lay felled. "Now let us drag it out of the wood together."
"Very well; do you take the thick end, and I will carry all
the top and branches, which are much the largest and
heaviest." So the giant took the trunk and laid it on his
shoulder; but the cunning little rogue, instead of carrying
anything, sat himself at his ease among the branches, and
let the giant carry stem, branches, and tailor into the bargain.
All the way they went he made merry, and whistled and
sang his song as if carrying the tree were mere sport; while
the giant after he had borne it a good way could carry it
no longer, and said, I must let it fall." Then the tailor
sprang down and held the tree as if he were carrying it,
saying, "What a shame that such a big lout as you cannot
carry a tree like this!" Then on they went together till
they came to a tall cherry-tree; and the giant took hold of
the top stem, and bent it down to pluck the ripest fruit, and
when he had done, gave it over to his friend that he too
might eat; but the little man was so weak that he could
not hold the tree down, and up he went with it swinging
in the air. "Hallo!" said the giant, "what now? can't you
hold that twig?" "To be sure I could," said the other;.
"but don't you see there's a huntsman, who is going to shoot
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into the bush where we stood? So I took a jump over the
tree to be out of his way; do you do the same." The giant
tried to follow, but the tree was far too high to jump over,
and he only stuck fast in the branches, for the tailor to laugh
at him. "Well! you are a fine fellow after all," said the
giant; "so come home and sleep with me and a friend of
mine in the mountains to-night."
The tailor had no business upon his hands, so he did as he
was bid, and the giant gave him a good supper, and a bed to
sleep upon; but the tailor was too cunning to lie down upon
it, and crept slily into a corner, and slept there soundly.
At midnight the giant came softly in with his iron walk-
ing-stick, and gave such a stroke upon the bed where he
thought his guest was lying, that he said to himself, It's all
up now with that grasshopper; I shall have no more of his
tricks." In the morning the giants went off into the woods,
and quite forgot him, till all on a sudden they met him trudg-
ing along, whistling a merry tune; and so frightened were
they at the sight that they both ran away as fast as they
could.
Then on went the little tailor following his nose, till
at last he reached the king's court, and began to brag very
loudly of his mighty deeds, saying he was come to serve the
king. To try him, they told him that the two giants who
lived in a part of the kingdom a long way off, were become
the dread of the whole land, for they had begun to rob,
plunder, and ravage all about them, and that if he was so
great a man as he said, he should have a hundred soldiers
to help him to fight these giants, and if he beat them he
should have half the kingdom. "With all my heart!" said
he; "but as for your hundred soldiers, I believe I shall do
as well without them." However, they set off together till
they came to a wood. Wait here, my friends," said he to the
soldiers, "I will soon give a good account of these giants:"
and on he went, casting his little sharp eye here, there, and
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The Young Giant and the Tailor
everywhere around him. After awhile he spied them both
lying under a tree, and snoring away till the very boughs
whistled with the breeze. "The game's won, for a penny,"
said the little man, as he filled his wallet with stones, and
climbed the tree under which they lay.
As soon as he was safely up, he threw one stone after
another at the nearest giant, till at last he woke up in a rage,
and shook his companion, crying out, "What did you strike
me for?" "Nonsense! you are dreaming," said the other; "I
did not strike you." Then both lay down to sleep again, and
the tailor threw stones at the second giant till he sprang up
and cried, "What are you about? you struck me." "I did
not," said the other; and on they wrangled for awhile, till
as both were tired they made up the matter, and fell asleep
again. But then the tailor began his game once more, and
flung the largest stone he had in his wallet with all his force
and hit the first giant on the nose. "That is too bad," cried
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Grimm's Fairy Tales
he, as if he were mad, I will not bear it." So he struck the
other a mighty blow; he of course was not pleased at this,
and gave him just such another box on the ear; and at last a
bloody battle began. They dragged the trees up by the
roots, flung the rocks and stones at each other's head, and in
the end both lay dead upon the spot. "It is a good thing,"
said the tailor, that they let my tree stand, or I must have
made a fine jump." Then down he ran, and took his sword
and gave each of them a very fine wound or two on the breast
and set off to look for the soldiers. "There lie the giants,"
said he; "I have killed them, but it has been no small job, for
they even tore trees up in their struggle." "Have you any
wounds?" asked they. "That is a likely matter, truly," said
he; "they have not touched a hair of my head." But the
soldiers would not believe him till they rode into the wood
and found the giants weltering in their blood, and the trees
lying around torn up by the roots.
The king, after he had got rid of his enemies, was not
much pleased at the thought of giving up half his kingdom
to a tailor; so he said, You have not yet done; in the palace
court lies a bear with whom you must pass the night, and if
when I rise in the morning I find you still living, you shall
then have your reward." Now he thought he had got rid of
him, for the bear had never yet let anyone go away alive who
had come within reach of his claws. "Very well," said the
tailor, "I am willing."
So when evening came our little tailor was led out and
shut up in the court with the bear, which rose at once to give
him a friendly welcome with his paw. "Softly, softly, my
friend," said he; "I know a way to please you." Then at his
ease, and as if he cared nothing about the matter, he pulled out
of his pocket some fine walnuts, cracked them, and ate the
kernels. When the bear saw this, he took a great fancy to
having some nuts too; so the tailor felt in his pocket and
gave him a handful, not of walnuts, but nice round pebbles,
225 00242.jpg
The Young Giant and the Tailor
The bear snapped them up, but could not crack one of them,
do what he would. "What a clumsy thick-head you are!"
thought the beast to itself; "you cannot crack a nut to-
day." Then said he to the tailor, Friend, pray crack me the
nuts." "Why, what a lout you are," said the tailor, "to have
such a jaw as that, and not to be able to crack a little nut!
Well! engage to be friends with me and I'll help you." So
he took the stones, and slily changed them for nuts, put them
in his mouth, and crack! they went. "I must try for myself,
however," said the bear; now I see how you do it, I am sure I
can do it myself." Then the tailor gave him the cobble stones
again, and the bear lay down and worked away as hard as he
could, and bit and bit with all his force till he broke all his
teeth, and lay down quite tired.
But the tailor began to think this would not last long, and
that the bear might find him out and break the bargain; so he
pulled a fiddle out from under his coat and played him a tune.
As soon as the bear heard it, he could not help jumping up
and beginning to dance; and when he had jigged away for
awhile, the thing pleased him so much that he said, Hark ye,
friend; is the fiddle hard to play upon?" "No! not at all,"
said the other; "look ye, I lay my left hand here, and then I
take the bow with my right hand thus, and scrape it over the
strings there, and away it goes merrily, hop, sa, sa! fal, lal, la!"
"Will you teach me to fiddle," said the bear, "so that I may
have music whenever I want to dance?" "With all my heart;
but let me look at your claws; they are so very long that I
must first clip your nails a little bit." Then the bear lifted up
his paws one after another, and the tailor screwed them down
tight, and said, "Now wait till I come with my scissors."
So he left the bear to growl as loud as he liked, and laid him-
self down on a heap of straw in the corner and slept soundly.
In the morning when the king came, he found the tailor sitting
merrily eating his breakfast, and could no longer help keeping
his word; and thus the little man became a great one.
203
Pee-wit
226 00243.jpg
Pee-wit
A POOR countryman whose name was Pee-wit lived with his
wife in a very quiet way in the parish where he was born.
One day, as he was ploughing with his two oxen in the field,
he heard all on a sudden someone calling out his name. Turn-
ing round, he saw nothing but a bird that kept crying Pee-
wit! Pee-wit!" Now this poor bird is called a Pee-wit, and
like the cuckoo always keeps crying out its own name. But
the countryman thought it was mocking him, so he threw a
huge stone at it; the bird flew off safe and sound, but the
stone fell upon the head of one of the oxen, and killed him on
the spot. "What is to be done with the odd one?" thought
Pee-wit to himself as he looked at the ox that was left.
Then without more ado he killed him too, skinned them
both, and set out for the neighboring town, to sell the hides
to the tanner for as much as he could get.
He soon found out where the tanner lived, and knocked
at the door. Before the door was opened, however, he saw
through the window that the mistress of the house was hiding
in an old chest a friend of hers, whom she seemed to wish no
one should see. By and by the door was opened. "What do
you want?" said the woman. Then he told her that he wanted
to sell his hides; and it came out that the tanner was not at
home, and that no one there ever made bargains but himself.
The countryman said he would sell cheap, and did not mind
giving his hides for the old chest in the corner; meaning the
one he had seen the good woman's friend get into. Of course
the wife would not agree to this; and they went on talking
the matter over so long, that at last in came the tanner and
asked what it was all about. Pee-wit told him the whole
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227 00244.jpg
Pee-wit
story, and asked him whether he would give the old chest for
the hides. "To be sure I will," said he; and scolded his wife
for saying nay to such a bargain, which she ought to have
been glad to make if the countryman was willing. Then up
he took the chest on his shoulders, and all the good woman
could say mattered nothing; away it went into the country-
man's cart, and off he drove. But when they had gone some
way, the young man within began to make himself heard, and
to beg and pray to be let out. Pee-wit, however, was not to
be brought over; but at last after a long parley a thousand
dollars were bid and taken. The money was paid, and the
poor fellow was set free, and went about his business.
Then Pee-wit went home very happy, and built a new
house and seemed so rich that his neighbours wondered, and
said, Pee-wit must have been where the golden snow falls."
So they took him before the next justice of the peace, to give
an account of himself, and show that he came honestly by his
wealth; and then he told them that he had sold his hides for
one thousand dollars. When they heard it they all killed their
oxen and would sell the hides to the same tanner; but the
justice said, "My maid shall have the first chance;" so off she
went, and when she came to the tanner, he laughed at them
all, and said he had given their neighbour nothing but an old
chest.
At this they were all very angry, and laid their heads
together to work him some mischief, which they thought they
could do while he was digging in his garden. All this, how-
ever, came to the ears of the countryman, who was plagued
with a sad scold for his wife; and he thought to himself, "If
anyone is to come into trouble, I don't see why it should not
be my wife, rather than me." So he said to his wife that he
wished she would humour him in a whim he had taken into
his head, and would put on his clothes, and dig the garden in
his stead. The wife did what was asked, and next morning
began digging; but soon came some of the neighbours, and,
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Grimm's Fairy Tales
thinking it was Pee-wit, threw a stone at her (harder perhaps
than they meant), and killed her at once. Poor Pee-wit was
rather sorry at this, but still thought that he had had a lucky
escape for himself, and that perhaps he might after all turn
the death of his wife to some account. So he dressed her in
her own clothes, put a basket with fine fruit (which was now
scarce, it being winter) into her hand, and sat her by the
roadside on a broad bench.
After awhile came by a fine coach with six horses, servants,
and outriders, and within sat a noble lord who lived not
far off. When his lordship saw the beautiful fruit, he sent
one of the servants to the woman to ask what was the price
of her goods. The man went and asked, "What is the price
of this fruit?" No answer. He asked again. No answer.
Now when this had happened three times, he became angry,
and, thinking she was asleep, gave her a blow, at which she
fell backwards into the pond that was behind the seat. Then
up ran Pee-wit, and cried and sorrowed because they had
drowned his poor wife, and threatened to have the lord and
his servants tried for what they had done. His lordship
begged him to be easy, and offered to give him the coach and
horses, servants and all; so the countryman after a long time
let himself be appeased a little, took what they gave, got into
the coach and set off towards his own home again.
As he came near, the neighbours wondered much at the
beautiful coach and horses, and still more when they stopped,
and Pee-wit got out at his own door. Then he told them the
whole story, which only vexed them still more; so they took
him and fastened him up in a tub, and were going to throw
him into the lake that was hard by. Whilst they were rolling
the tub on before them towards the water, they passed by an
ale-house and stopped to refresh themselves a little before
they put an end to Pee-wit; meantime they tied the tub to
a tree and there left it while they were enjoying themselves
within doors.
229 00246.jpg
oo7-
"A fine coach came by"
207
C~--Y~i~
230 00247.jpg
Grimm's Fairy Tales
Pee-wit no sooner found himself alone than he began to
turn over in his mind how he could get free. He listened,
and soon heard Ba, ba! from a flock of sheep and lambs that
were coming by. Then he lifted up his voice, and shouted
out, "I will not be burgomaster, I say; I will not be made
burgomaster!" The shepherd hearing this went up, and said,
"What is all'this noise about?" "Oh!" said Pee-wit, "my
neighbours will make me burgomaster against my will; and
when I told them I would not agree, they put me into the
cask and are going to throw me into the lake." I should
like very well to be burgomaster if I were you," said the
shepherd. Open the cask then," said the other, and let me
out, and get in yourself, and they will make you burgomaster
instead of me." No sooner said than done-the shepherd was
in, Pee-wit was out; and as there was nobody to take care of
the shepherd's flock, he drove it off merrily towards his own
house.
When the neighbours came out of the ale-house, they
rolled the cask on, and the shepherd began to cry out, I will
be burgomaster now; I will be burgomaster now!" "I dare
say you will, but you shall take a swim first," said a neigh-
bour, as he gave the cask the last push over into the lake.
This done, away they went home merrily, leaving the shepherd
to get out as well as he could.
But as they came in at one side of the village, who should
they meet coming in the other way but Pee-wit driving a fine
flock of sheep and lambs before him. How came you here?"
cried all with one voice. "Oh! the lake is enchanted," said
he; "when you threw me in, I sunk deep and deep into the
water, till at last I came to the bottom; there I knocked
out the bottom of the cask and found myself in a beautiful
meadow with fine flocks grazing upon it, so I chose a few for
myself, and here I am." Cannot we have some too?" said
they. "Why not? there are hundreds and thousands left;
you have nothing to do but jump in and fetch them out."
2o8
231 00248.jpg
Pee-wit
So all agreed they would dive for sheep; the justice first,
then the clerk, then the constables, and then the rest of the
parish, one after the other. When they came to the side
of the lake, the blue sky was covered with little white clouds
like flocks of sheep, and all were reflected in the clear water:
so they called out, "There they are, there they are already!"
and fearing lest the justice should get everything, they
jumped in all at once; and Pee-wit jogged home, and made
himself happy with what he had got, leaving them to find
their flocks by themselves as well as they could.
(B 200)
Jorinda and Jorindel
232 00249.jpg
Jorinda and Jorindel
THERE was once an old castle that stood in the middle of a
large thick wood, and in the castle lived an old fairy. All the
day long she flew about in the form of an owl, or crept about
the country like a cat; but at night she always became an old
woman again. When any youth came within a hundred paces
of her castle, he became quite fixed, and could not move a
step till she set him free. But when any pretty maiden came
within that distance, she was changed into a bird; and the
fairy put her into a cage and hung her up in a chamber in the
castle. There were seven hundred cages hanging in the castle,
all with beautiful birds in them.
Now there was once a maiden whose name was Jorinda.
She was prettier than all the pretty girls that ever were seen;
and a shepherd whose name was Jorindel was very fond of
her, and they were soon to be married. One day they went
to walk in the wood, that they might be alone: and Jorindel
said, "We must take care that we don't go too near to the
castle." It was a beautiful evening; the last rays of the set-
ting sun shone bright through the long stems of the trees
upon the green underwood beneath, and the turtle-doves sang
plaintively from the tall birches.
Jorinda sat down to rest and Jorindel sat by her side.
Both felt sad, they knew not why; but it seemed as if they
were to be parted from one another for ever. They had
wandered far; and when they thought of going home, they
found themselves at a loss to know what path to take.
Jorindel on a sudden looked behind him, and saw that
they had, without knowing it, sat down near the old castle.
Jorinda was singing:
233 00250.jpg
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Jorinda and Jorindel sit down near the old Castle
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234 00252.jpg
Jorinda and Jorindel
"The ring-dove sang from the willow spray,
Well-a-day! well-a-day !
He mourn'd for the fate of his lovely mate,
Well-a-day I"
The song ceased suddenly. Jorindel turned to see the
reason, and beheld his Jorinda changed into a nightingale.
An owl with fiery eyes flew three times round them, and three
times screamed Tu whu! Tu whu! Tu whu!" Jorindel could
not move. He stood fixed as a stone. And now the sun went
down altogether, and the gloomy night fell. The owl flew
into a bush; and a moment after the old fairy came forth.
She mumbled something to herself, seized the nightingale,
and went away with it in her hand. Poor Jorindel saw the
nightingale was gone,-but what could he do? He could not
speak, he could not move from the spot where he stood. At
last the fairy came back, and sang with a hoarse voice:
"Till the prisoner's fast,
And her doom is cast,
There stay! Oh, stay!
When the charm is around her,
And the spell has bound her,
Hie away! away!"
On a sudden Jorindel found himself free. Then he fell on
his knees before the fairy, and prayed her to give him back
his dear Jorinda. But she said he should never see her
again, and went her way.
Jorindel could not return to his own home, so he went to
a strange village, and employed himself in keeping sheep.
Many a time did he walk round and round as near to the
castle as he dared go. At last he dreamt one night that he
found a beautiful white flower, in the middle of which lay a
costly pearl. And he dreamt that he plucked the flower, and
went with it in his hand into the castle, and that everything
he touched with it was disenchanted.
ill
235 00253.jpg
Grimm's Fairy Tales
In the morning when he awoke, he began to search over
hill and dale for this pretty flower. Eight long days he sought
for it in vain; but on the ninth day, early in the morning, he
found a beautiful white flower, and in the middle of it was a
large dewdrop as big as a costly pearl.
Then he plucked the flower, and travelled day and night
till he came again to the castle. This time he found that he
could go close up to the door, and yet did not become fixed
as before.
Jorindel touched the door with the flower, and it sprang
open. Then he went in through the court till he came to the
chamber where the fairy sat, with the seven hundred birds
singing in the seven hundred cages. And when she saw
Jorindel she was very angry; but she could not come within
two yards of him, for the flower he held in his hand protected
him. He looked around at the birds, but alas! there were
many, many nightingales, and how then should he find his
Jorinda? While he was thinking what to do, he noticed that
the fairy had taken down one of the cages, and was making
her escape through the door. He ran after her, touched the
cage with the flower,-and his Jorinda stood before him, as
beautiful as ever.
He also touched all the other birds with the flower, so
that they resumed their old forms; and then he took his dear
Jorinda home, and they lived happily together many years.
236 00254.jpg
Ii
I -
B 200
Jorindel touches the Cage with the White Flower
. ;. : E
Ashputtel
237 00256.jpg
Ashputtel
THE wife of a rich man fell sick: and when she felt that her
end drew nigh, she called her only daughter to her bed-side,
and said, Always be a good girl, and I will look down from
heaven and watch over you." Soon afterwards she shut her
eyes and died, and was buried in the garden; and the little
child went every day to her grave and wept, and was always
good and kind to all about her. And the snow spread a
beautiful white covering over the grave; but by the time the
sun had melted it away again, her father had married another
wife. This new wife had two daughters of her own, and she
brought them home with her. They were fair in face but foul
at heart, and it was now a sorry time for the poor little girl.
"What does the good-for-nothing want in the parlour?" said
they; "they who would eat bread should first earn it; away
with the kitchen-maid!" Then they took away her fine
clothes, and gave her an old gray frock to put on, and
laughed at her and turned her into the kitchen.
There she was forced to do hard work; to rise early before
daylight, to bring the water, to make the fire, to cook and to
wash. Besides that, the sisters plagued her in all sorts of
ways, and laughed at her. In the evening when she was
tired she had no bed to lie down on, but was made to lie
by the he-rth among the ashes; and then, as she was of
course"always dusty and dirty, they called her Ashputtel.
It happened once that the father was going to the fair,
and asked his wife's daughters what he should bring them.
"Fine clothes," said the first: "Pearls and diamonds," cried
the second. "Now, child," said he to his own daughter,
"what will you have?" "The first sprig, dear father, that
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238 00257.jpg
Grimm's Fairy Tales
rubs against your hat on your way home," said she. He
bought for the two first the fine clothes and pearls and
diamonds they had asked for. On his way home as he
rode through a green copse, a sprig of hazel brushed against
him, and almost pushed off his hat: so he broke it off and
brought it away; and when he got home he gave it to his
daughter. Then she took it and went to her mother's grave
and planted it there, and cried so much that it was watered
with her tears; and there it grew and became a fine tree.
Three times every day she went to it and wept; and soon
a little bird came and built its nest upon the tree, and talked
with her, and watched over her, and brought her whatever
she wished for.
Now it happened that the king of the land held a feast
which was to last three days, and out of those who came to
it his son was to choose a bride for himself. Ashputtel's
two sisters were asked to come. So they called her up, and
said, "Now, comb our hair, brush our shoes, and tie our
sashes for us, for we are going to dance at the king's feast."
Then she did as she was told; but when all was done she
could not help crying, for she thought to herself, she should
have liked to go to the dance too; and at last she begged her
mother very hard to let her go. "You! Ashputtel?" said she;
"you who have nothing to wear, no clothes at all, and who
cannot even dance-you want to go to the ball?" And when
she kept on begging,-to get rid of her, she said at last, "I
will throw this basinful of peas into the ash-heap, and if you
have picked them all out in two hours' time you shall go to
the feast too." Then she threw the peas into the ashes: but
the little maiden ran out at the back-door into the garden,
and cried out-
Hither, hither, through the sky,
Turtle-doves and linnets fly!
Blackbird, thrush, and chaffinch gay,
Hither, hither, haste away!
214
239 00258.jpg
Ashputtel
One and all, come help me quick,
Haste ye, haste ye,-pick, pick, pick!"
Then first came two white doves flying in at the kitchen
window; and next came two turtle-doves; and after them all
the little birds under heaven came chirping and fluttering in,
and flew down into the ashes. And the little doves stooped
their heads down and set to work, pick, pick, pick; and then
the others began to pick, pick, pick; and picked out all the
good grain and put it in a dish, and left the ashes. At the
end of one hour the work was done, and all flew out again
at the windows. Then she brought the dish to her mother,
overjoyed at the thought that now she should go to the
wedding. But she said, "No, no! you slut, you have no
clothes and cannot dance, you shall not go." And when
Ashputtel begged very hard to go, she said, "If you can in
one hour's time pick two of those dishes of peas out of the
ashes, you shall go too." And thus she thought she should
at last get rid of her. So she shook two dishes of peas into
the ashes; but the little maiden went out into the garden at
the back of the house, and cried out as before-
"Hither, hither, through the sky,
Turtle-doves and linnets fly!
Blackbird, thrush, and chaffinch gay,
Hither, hither, haste away
One and all, come help me quick,
Haste ye, haste ye,-pick, pick, pick!"
Then first came two white doves in at the kitchen window;
and next came the turtle-doves; and after them all the little
birds under the heaven came chirping and hopping about,
and flew down about the ashes. And the little doves put
their heads down and set to work, pick, pick, pick; and
then the others began pick, pick, pick; and they put all the
good grain into the dishes, and left all the ashes. Before
half an hour's time all was done, and out they flew again.
215
240 00259.jpg
Grimm's Fairy Tales
And then Ashputtel took the dishes to her mother, rejoicing
to think that she should now go to the ball. But her mother
said, It is all of no use, you cannot go; you have no clothes,
and cannot dance, and you would only put us to shame:"
and off she went with her two daughters to the feast.
Now when all were gone, and nobody left at home, Ash-
puttel went sorrowfully and sat down under the hazel-tree,
and cried out-
"Shake, shake, hazel-tree,
Gold and silver over me!"
Then her friend the bird flew out of the tree and brought
a gold and silver dress for her, and slippers of spangled silk;
and she put them on, and followed her sisters to the feast.
But they did not know her, and thought it must be some
strange princess, she looked so fine and beautiful in her rich
clothes: and they never once thought of Ashputtel, but took
for granted that she was safe at home in the dirt.
The king's son soon came up to her, and took her by the
hand and danced with her and no one else: and he never left
her hand; but when anyone else came to ask her to dance,
he said, This lady is dancing with me." Thus they danced
till a late hour of the night; and at last she wanted to go
home. Then the king's son said, I will go and take care
of you to your home;" for he wanted to see where the
beautiful maid lived. But she slipped away from him un-
awares, and ran off towards home, and the prince followed
her; but she jumped into the pigeon-house and shut the
door. Then he waited till her father came home, and told
him that the unknown maiden who had been at the feast
had hid herself in the pigeon-house. But when they had
broken open the door they found no one within; and as
they came back into the house, Ashputtel lay, as she always
did, in her dirty frock by the ashes, and her dim little lamp
burnt in the chimney: for she had run as quickly as she
241 00260.jpg
"Shake, shake, hazel-tree !"
217
242 00261.jpg
Grimm's Fairy Tales
could through the pigeon-house and on to the hazel-tree,
and had there taken off her beautiful clothes, and laid them
beneath the tree, that the bird might carry them away, and
had seated herself amid the ashes again in her little gray frock.
The next day, when the feast was again held, and her
father, mother, and sisters were gone, Ashputtel went to the
hazel-tree and said-
"Shake, shake, hazel-tree,
Gold and silver over me!"
And the bird came and brought a still finer dress than
the one she had worn the day before. And when she came
in it to the ball, everyone wondered at her beauty: but the
king's son, who was waiting for her, took her by the hand,
and danced with her; and when anyone asked her to dance,
he said as before, "This lady is dancing with me." When
night came she wanted to go home; and the king's son
followed her as before, that he might see into what house
she went: but she sprang away from him all at once into
the garden behind her father's house. In this garden stood
a fine large pear-tree full of ripe fruit; and Ashputtel, not
knowing where to hide herself, jumped up into it without
being seen. Then the king's son could not find out where
she was gone, but waited till her father came home, and said
to him, The unknown lady who danced with me has slipped
away, and I think she must have sprung into the pear-tree."
The father thought to himself, "Can it be Ashputtel?" So
he ordered an axe to be brought, and they cut down the tree,
but found no one upon it. And when they came back into
the kitchen, there lay Ashputtel in the ashes as usual; for she
had slipped down on the other 'side of the tree, and carried
her beautiful clothes back to the bird at the hazel-tree, and
then put on her little gray frock.
The third day, when her father and mother and sisters
were gone, she went again into the garden, and said-
218
243 00262.jpg
Ashputtel
Shake, shake, hazel-tree,
Gold and silver over me!"
Then her kind friend the bird brought a dress still finer
than the former one, and slippers which were all of gold: so
that when she came to the feast no one knew what to say for
wonder at her beauty: and the king's son danced with her
alone; and when anyone else asked her to dance, he said,
"This lady is my partner." Now when night came she
wanted to go home; and the king's son would go with her,
and said to himself, "I will not lose her this time;" she
managed, however, to slip away from him, though in such
a hurry that she dropped her left golden slipper upon the
stairs.
So the prince took the shoe, and went the next day to
the king his father, and said, "I will take for my wife the
lady that this golden slipper fits." Then both the sisters
were overjoyed to hear this; for they had beautiful feet, and
had no doubt that they could wear the golden slipper. The
eldest went first into the room where the slipper was and
wanted to try it on, and the mother stood by. But her
great toe could not go into it, and the shoe was altogether
much too small for her. Then the mother gave her a knife,
and said, "Never mind, cut it off; when you are queen you
will not care about toes, you will not want to go on foot."
So the silly girl cut her great toe off, and squeezed the shoe
on, and went to the king's son. Then he took her for his
bride, and set her beside him on his horse, and rode away
with her.
But on their way home they had to pass by the hazel-tree
that Ashputtel had planted, and there sat a little dove on the
branch singing-
"Back again back again! look to the shoe
The shoe is too small, and not made for you!
Prince! prince! look again for thy bride,
For she's not the true one that sits by thy side."
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Then the prince got down and looked at her foot, and
saw by the blood that streamed from it what a trick she had
played him. So he turned his horse round and brought the
false bride back to her home, and said, "This is not the right
bride: let the other sister try and put on the slipper." Then
she went into the room and got her foot into the shoe, all
but the heel, which was too large. But her mother squeezed
it in till the blood came, and took her to the king's son; and
he set her as his bride beside him on his horse, and rode away
with her.
But when they came to the hazel-tree the little dove sate
there still, and sang-
"Back again! back again! look to the shoe!
The shoe is too small, and not made for you!
Prince! prince! look again for thy bride,
For she's not the true one that sits by thy side."
Then he looked down and saw that the blood streamed
so from the shoe that her white stockings were quite red.
So he turned his horse and brought her back again also.
"This is not the true bride," said he to the father; "have
you no other daughters?" "No," said he; "there is only a
little dirty Ashputtel here, the child of my first wife; I am
sure she cannot be the bride." However, the prince told him
to send her. But the mother said, "No, no, she is much too
dirty; she will not dare to show herself." The prince, however,
would have her come. And she first washed her face and
hands, and then went in and curtsied to him, and he reached
her the golden slipper. Then he took her clumsy shoe off
her left foot, and put on the golden slipper; and it fitted her
as if it had been made for her. And when he drew near and
looked at her face he knew her, and said, "This is the right
bride." But the mother and both the sisters were frightened
and turned pale with anger as he took Ashputtel on his horse,
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Ashputtel
and rode away with her. And when they came to the hazel-
tree, the white dove sang-
Home! home! look at the shoe!
Princess! the shoe was made for you!
Prince! prince! take home thy bride,
For she is the true one that sits by thy side!"
And when the dove had done its song, it came flying and
perched upon her right shoulder, and so went home with her.
Peter the Goatherd
246 00265.jpg
Peter the Goatherd
IN the wilds of the Hartz Forest there is a high mountain,
where the fairies and goblins dance by night, and where they
say the great Emperor Frederic Barbarossa still holds his
court among the caverns. Now and then he shows himself
and punishes those whom he dislikes, or gives some rich gift
to the lucky wight whom he takes it into his head to befriend.
He sits on a throne of marble with his red beard sweeping on
the ground, and once or twice in a long course of years rouses
himself for awhile from the trance in which he is buried, but
soon falls again into his former forgetfulness. Strange chances
have befallen many who have strayed within the range of his
court:-you shall hear one of them.
A great many years ago there lived in the village at the
foot of the mountain, one Peter, a goatherd. Every morning
he drove his flock to feed upon the green spots that are here
and there found on the mountain's side, and in the evening
he sometimes thought it too far to drive his charge home,
so he used in such cases to shut it up in a spot amongst the
woods, where an old ruined wall was left standing, high enough
to form a fold, in which he could count his goats and rest in
peace for the night. One evening he found that the prettiest
goat of his flock had vanished soon after they were driven
into this fold, but was there again in the morning. Again
and again he watched, and the same strange thing happened.
He thought he would look still more narrowly, and soon
found a cleft in the old wall, through which it seemed that
his favourite made her way. Peter followed, scrambling as
well as he could down the side of the rock, and wondered
not a little, on overtaking his goat, to find it employing itself
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Grimm's Fairy Tales
very much at its ease in a cavern, eating corn, which kept
dropping from some place above. He went into the cavern
and looked about him to see where all this corn, that rattled
about his ears like a hail-storm, could come from: but all was
dark, and he could find no clue to this strange business. At
last, as he stood listening, he thought he heard the neighing
and stamping of horses. He listened again; it was plainly
so; and after awhile he was sure that horses were feeding
above him, and that the corn fell from their mangers. What
could these horses be, which were thus kept in a mountain
where none but the goat's foot ever trod? Peter pondered
awhile; but his wonder only grew greater and greater, when
on a sudden a little page came forth and beckoned him to
follow; he did so, and came at last to a courtyard surrounded
by an old wall. The spot seemed the bosom of the valley;
above rose on every hand high masses of rock; wide branch-
ing trees threw their arms overhead, so that nothing but a
glimmering twilight made its way through; and here, on the
cool smooth shaven turf, were twelve old knights, who looked
very grave and sober, but were amusing themselves with a
game of nine-pins.
Not a word fell from their lips; but they ordered Peter
by dumb signs to busy himself in setting up the pins, as they
knocked them down. At first his knees trembled, as he dared
to snatch a stolen sidelong glance at the long beards and old-
fashioned dresses of the worthy knights. Little by little,
however, he grew bolder; and at last he plucked up his heart
so far as to take his turn in the draught at the can, which
stood beside him and sent up the smell of the richest old
wine. This gave him new strength for his work; and as
often as he flagged at all, he turned to the same kind friend
for help in his need.
Sleep at last overpowered him; and when he awoke he
found himself stretched out upon the old spot where he had
folded his flock. The same green turf was spread beneath,
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Peter the Goatherd
and the same tottering walls surrounded him; he rubbed his
eyes, but neither dog nor goat was to be seen, and when he
had looked about him again the grass seemed to be longer
under his feet, and trees hung over his head which he had
either never seen before or had forgotten. Shaking his head,
and hardly knowing whether he were in his right mind, he
wound his way among the mountain steeps, through paths
where his flocks were wont to wander; but still not a goat
was to be seen. Below him in the plain lay the village where
his home was, and at length he took the downward path, and
set out with a heavy heart in search of his flock. The people
who met him as he drew near to the village were all unknown
to him; they were not even dressed as his neighbours were,
and they seemed as if they hardly spoke the same tongue;
and when he eagerly asked after his goats, they only stared
at him and stroked their chins. At last he did the same too,
and what was his wonder to find that his beard was grown at
least a foot long! The world, thought he now to himself, is
turned over, or at any rate bewitched; and yet he knew the
mountain as he turned round to gaze upon its woody heights;
and he knew the houses and cottages also, with their little
gardens, all of which were in the same places as he had
always known them; he heard some children, too, call the
village by its old name, as a traveller that passed by was
asking his way.
Again he shook his head and went straight through the
village to his own cottage. Alas! it looked sadly out of
repair; and in the courtyard lay an unknown child, in a
ragged dress, by the side of a rough, toothless dog, whom
he thought he ought to know, but who snarled and barked
in his face when he called to him. He went in at an opening
in the wall where a door had once stood, but found all so
dreary and empty that he staggered out again like a drunken
man, and called his wife and children loudly by their names;
but no one heard, at least no one answered him.
(B 200) 25 P
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Grimm's Fairy Tales
A crowd of women and children soon flocked around the
long gray-bearded man, and all broke upon him at once with
the questions, "Who are you?" "Whom do you want?" It
seemed to him so odd to ask other people at his own door
after his wife and children, that in order to get rid of the
crowd he named the first man that came into his head;-
"Hans, the blacksmith!" said he. Most held their tongues
and stared, but at last an old woman said, "He went these
seven years to a place that you will not reach to-day."
"Frank, the tailor, then!" "Heaven rest his soul!" said
an old beldame upon crutches; "he has lain these ten years
in a house that he'll never leave."
Peter looked at the old woman, and shuddered as he saw
her to be one of his old friends, only with a strangely altered
face. All wish to ask further questions was gone! but at
last a young woman made her way through the gaping throng
with a baby in her arms, and a little girl about three years
old clinging to her other hand; all three looked the very
image of his wife. "What is thy name?" asked he wildly.
"Mary." "And your father's?" "Heaven bless him! Peter!
It is now twenty years since we sought him day and night
on the mountain; his flock came back, but he never was
heard of any more. I was then seven years old." The goat-
herd could hold no longer. "I am Peter," cried he; "I am
Peter, and no other!" as he took the child from his daughter's
arms and kissed it. All stood gaping, and not knowing
what to say or think, till at length one voice was heard,
"Why, it is Peter!" and then several others cried, "Yes, it
is; it is Peter! Welcome, neighbour, welcome home, after
twenty long years!"
!"
The Goose-Girl
251 00270.jpg
The Goose-Girl
AN old queen, whose husband had been dead some years,
had a beautiful daughter. When she grew up, she was be-
trothed to a prince who lived a great way off; and as the
time drew near for her to be married, she got ready to set off
on her journey to his country. Then the queen, her mother,
packed up a great many costly things-jewels, and gold and
silver trinkets, fine dresses, and in short everything that
became a royal bride; for she loved her child very dearly.
And she gave her a waiting-maid to ride with her, and give
her into the bridegroom's hands; and each had a horse for the
journey. Now the princess's horse was called Falada, and
could speak.
When the time came for them to set out, the old queen
went into her bed-chamber, and took a little pair of scissors,
and cut off a lock of her hair. This she gave to her daughter,
and said: "Take care of it, dear child; for it is a charm that
may be of use to you on the road." Then they took a sorrow-
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Grimm's Fairy Tales
ful leave of each other, and the princess put the lock of her
mother's hair into her bosom, got upon her horse, and set off
on her journey to her bridegroom's kingdom. One day as
they were riding along by the side of a brook, the princess
began to feel very thirsty, and said to her maid: "Pray get
down and fetch me some water in my golden cup out of
yonder brook, for I want to drink."
"Nay," said the maid, "if you are thirsty, get down your-
self, and lie down by the water and drink; I will not be your
waiting-maid any longer."
The princess was so thirsty that she got down, and knelt
over the little brook, and drank, for she was frightened, and
dared not bring out her golden cup. And then she wept, and
said: "Alas! what will become of me?" And the lock of hair
answered her, and said:
"Alas! alas! if thy mother knew it,
Sadly, sadly her heart would rue it."
But the princess was very humble and meek, so she said
nothing about her maid's ill behaviour, but got upon her horse
again.
Then they rode farther on their journey, till the day grew
so warm, and the sun so scorching, that the bride began to
feel very thirsty again; and at last, when they came to a river,
she forgot her maid's rude speech, and said: "Pray get down
and fetch me some water to drink in my golden cup."
But the maid answered her, and spoke even more haughtily
than before: Drink if you will, but I will not be your waiting-
maid."
Then the princess was so thirsty that she got off her
horse and lay down, and held her head over the running
stream, and cried, and said: "What will become of me?"
And the lock of hair answered her again:
"Alas! alas! if thy mother knew it,
Sadly, sadly her heart would rue it,"
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The Goose-Girl
And as she leaned down to drink, the lock of hair fell from
her bosom and floated away with the water, without her
seeing it, she was so frightened. But her maid saw it, and
was very glad; for she knew the charm, and saw that the
poor bride would be in her power, now that she had lost
the hair. So when the bride had done, and would have
got upon Falada again, the maid said: "I shall ride upon
Falada, and you may have my horse instead;" and the
princess was forced to give up her horse, and soon after-
wards to take off her royal clothes, and put on her maid's
shabby ones.
At last, as they drew near the end of their journey, this
wicked servant threatened to kill her mistress if she ever told
anyone what had happened. But Falada saw it all, and
marked it well. Then the waiting-maid got upon Falada,
and the real bride was set upon the other horse, and they
went on in this way till at last they came to the royal court.
There was great joy at their coming, and the prince ran to
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Grimm's Fairy Tales
meet them, and lifted the maid from her horse, thinking she
was the one who was to be his wife; and she was led upstairs
to the royal chamber, but the true princess was told to stay in
the court below.
Now the old king happened to be looking out of the
window, and saw her in the yard below; and as she looked
very pretty, and too delicate for a waiting-maid, he went into
the royal chamber to ask the bride who it was she had
brought with her, that was thus left standing in the court.
" I brought her with me for the sake of her company on the
road," said she; "pray give the girl some work to do, that she
may not be idle." The old king could not for some time
think of any work for her to do; but at last he said: "I have
a lad who takes care of my geese; she may go and help him."
Now the name of this lad, whom the real bride was to help in
watching the king's geese, was Curdken.
Soon after, the false bride said to the prince: "Dear
husband, pray do me one piece of kindness."
"That I will," said the prince.
"Then tell one of your slaughterers to cut off the head
of the horse I rode upon, for it was very unruly, and
plagued me sadly on the road." But the truth was, she
was very much afraid lest Falada should speak, and tell all
she had done to the princess. The prince gave the order, and
the faithful Falada was killed. When the true princess heard
of this, she wept, and begged the man to nail up Falada's
head against a large dark gate in the city, through which she
had to pass every morning and evening, so that she might
still see him sometimes. The slaughterer said he would do as
she wished; and he cut off the head, and nailed it fast under
the dark gate.
Early the next morning, as she and Curdken went out
through'the gate, she said sorrowfully:
"Falada, Falada, there thou art hanging!"
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256 00276.jpg
The Goose-Girl
lit
and the head answered:
"Bride, bride, there thou art ganging.
Alas I alas! if thy mother knew it,
Sadly, sadly her heart would rue it."
Then they went out of the city, and drove the geese
before them. And when she came to the meadow, she sat
down upon a bank there, and let down her waving locks of
hair, which were all of pure gold. And when Curdken saw
it glitter in the sun, he ran up, and would have pulled some of
the locks out; but the princess cried:
"Blow, breezes, blow!
Let Curdken's hat go!
Blow, breezes, blow I
Let him after it go!
O'er hills, dales, and rocks,
Away be it whirl'd,
231
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Grimm's Fairy Tales
Till the golden locks
Are all comb'd and curl'd!"
Then there came a wind, so strong that it blew off Curdken's
hat; and away it flew over the hills, and he after it. And by
the time he came back, she had done combing and curling her
hair, and had put it up again safe. Then he was very angry
and sulky, and would not speak to her at all; but they
watched the geese until it grew dark in the evening, and then
drove them homewards.
The next morning, as they were going through the dark
gate, the poor girl looked up at Falada's head, and cried:
"Falada, Falada, there thou art hanging l"
and it answered:
"Bride, bride, there thou art ganging
Alas! alas! if thy mother knew it,
Sadly, sadly her heart would rue it."
Then she drove on the geese and sat down again in the
232
258 00279.jpg
"Blow, Breezes, blow, let Curdken's Hat go"
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The Goose-Girl
meadow, and began to comb out her hair as before. And
Curdken ran up to her, and wanted to take hold of it; but she
cried out quickly:
"Blow, breezes, blow!
Let Curdken's hat go!
Blow, breezes, blow
Let him after it go
O'er hills, dales, and rocks,
Away be it whirl'd,
Till the golden locks
Are all comb'd and curl'd!"
Then the wind came and blew his hat, and off it flew a great
way, over the hills and far away, so that he had to run after
it; and when he came back, she had done up her hair again,
and all was safe. So they watched the geese till it grew
dark.
In the evening, after they came home, Curdken went to
the old king, and said: I cannot have that strange girl to
help me to keep the geese any longer."
"Why?" said the king.
"Because she does nothing but tease me all day long."
Then the king made him tell all that had passed. And
Curdken said: "When we go in the morning through the
dark gate with our flock of geese, she weeps, and talks with
the head of a horse that hangs upon the wall, and says:
"'Falada, Falada, there thou art hanging !'
and the head answers:
"'Bride, bride, there thou art ganging!
Alas! alas I if thy mother knew it,
Sadly, sadly her heart would rue it."'
Then Curdken told the king what had happened upon the
260 00282.jpg
Grimm's Fairy Tales
meadow where the geese fed; and how his hat was blown
away, and he was forced to run after it, and leave his flock.
But the old king said he must go out again as usual the next
day: and when morning came, the king placed himself behind
the dark gate, and heard how the princess spoke to Falada,
and how Falada answered. Then the king went into the
field and hid himself in a bush by the side of the meadow,
and soon saw with his own eyes how they drove the flock of
geese, and how, after a little time, the princess let down her
hair that glittered in the sun; and then he heard her say:
"Blow, breezes, blow I
Let Curdken's hat go
Blow, breezes, blow
Let him after it go!
234
261 00283.jpg
The Goose-Girl
O'er hills, dales, and rocks,
Away be it whirl'd,
Till the golden locks
Are all comb'd and curl'dl"
And soon came a gale of wind, and carried away Curdken's
hat, while the girl went on combing and curling her hair. All
this the old king saw. So he went home without being seen;
and when the little goose-girl came back in the evening, he
called her aside, and asked her why she did so. But she
burst into tears, and said: "That I must not tell you or any
man, or I shall lose my life."
But the old king begged so hard that she had no peace
till she had told him all, word for word: and it was very
lucky for her that she did so, for the king ordered royal
clothes to be put upon her, and gazed on her with wonder,
she was so beautiful. Then he called his son, and told him
that he had only the false bride, for that she was merely a
waiting-maid, while the true one stood before him. And the
prince rejoiced when he saw her beauty, and heard how meek
and patient she had been; and without saying anything,
ordered a great feast to be got ready for all his court. The
bridegroom sat at the top, with the false princess on one side,
and the true one on the other; but nobody knew her, for she
was quite dazzling to their eyes, and was not at all like the
little goose-girl, now that she had her brilliant dress.
When they had feasted, and were very merry, the old king
told all the story, as one that he had once heard, and asked
the true waiting-maid what she thought ought to be done to
anyone who should behave thus.
"Nothing better," said this false bride, "than that she
should be thrown into a cask stuck round with sharp nails,
and that two horses should be put to it, and should drag it
from street to street till she was dead."
"You are she!" said the old king, "and since you have
judged yourself, it shall be so done to you."
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Grimm's Fairy Tales
And the young prince was married to his true wife, and
they reigned over the kingdom in peace ard happiness all
their lives.
263 00285.jpg
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The False Bride is dragged through the Streets in a Cask
The Four Clever Brothers
264 00287.jpg
The Four Clever Brothers
" DEAR children," said a poor man to his four sons, "I have
nothing to give you; you must go out into the world and
try your luck. Begin by learning some trade, and see how
you can get on." So the four brothers took their walking-
sticks in their hands, and their little bundles on their shoulders,
and, after bidding their father good-bye, went out at the
gate together. When they had got on some way they came
to four cross-ways, each leading to a different country. Then
the eldest said, Here we must part; but this day four years
we will come back to this spot; and in the meantime each
must try what he can do for himself." So each brother
went his way. Now as the eldest was hastening on, a man
met him, and asked him where he was going and what he
wanted. "I am going to try my luck in the world, and
should like to begin by learning some trade," answered he.
"Then," said the man, "go with me, and I will teach you
how to become the cunningest thief that ever was." "No,"
said the other, "that is not an honest calling, and what can
one look to earn by it in the end but the gallows?" "Oh!"
said the man, "you need not fear the gallows; for I will
only teach you to steal what will be fair game; I meddle
with nothing but what no one else can get or care anything
about, and where no one can find you out." So the young
man agreed to follow his trade, and he soon showed himself
so clever that nothing could escape him that he had once
set his mind upon.
The second brother also met a man, who, when he found
out what he was setting out upon, asked him what trade
he meant to learn, "I do not know yet," said he. "Then
265 00288.jpg
Grimm's Fairy Tales
come with me, and be a star-gazer. It is a noble trade,
for nothing can be hidden from you when you understand
the stars." The plan pleased him much, and he soon became
such a skilful star-gazer, that when he had served out his
time, and wanted to leave his master, he gave him a glass,
and said, "With this you can see all that is passing in the
sky and on earth, and nothing can be hidden from you."
The third brother met a huntsman, who took him with
him, and taught him so well all that belonged to hunting,
that he became very clever in that trade; and when he left
his master he gave him a bow, and said, "Whatever you
shoot at with this bow you will be sure to hit."
The youngest brother likewise met a man who asked him
what he wished to do. "Would not you like," said he, "to
be a tailor?" "Oh no!" said the young man; "sitting cross-
legged from morning to night, working backwards and for-
wards with a needle and goose, will never suit me." "Oh!"
answered the man, "that is not my sort of tailoring; come
with me, and you will learn quite another kind of trade from
that." Not knowing what better to do, he came into the
plan, and learnt the trade from the beginning; and when
he left his master, he gave him a needle, and said, "You can
sew anything with this, be it as soft as an egg, or as hard
as steel, and the joint will be so fine that no seam will be
seen."
After the space of four years, at the time agreed upon,
the four brothers met at the four cross-roads, and having
welcomed each other, set off towards their father's home,
where they told him all that had happened to them, and
how each had learned some trade. Then one day, as they
were sitting before the house under a very high tree, the
father said, I should like to try what each of you can do
in his trade." So he looked up, and said to the second son,
"At the top of this tree there is a chaffinch's nest; tell me
how many eggs there are in it." The star-gazer took his
238
266 00289.jpg
The Four Clever Brothers
glass, looked up, and said, "Five." "Now," said the father
to the eldest son, "take away the eggs without the bird that
is sitting upon them and hatching them knowing anything
of what you are doing." So the cunning thief climbed up
the tree, and brought away to his father the five eggs
from under the bird, which never saw or felt what he was
doing, but kept sitting on at her ease. Then the father took
the eggs, and put one on each corner of the table and the
fifth in the middle, and said to the huntsman, "Cut all the
eggs in two pieces at one shot." The huntsman took up
his bow, and at one shot struck all the five eggs as his father
wished. Now comes your turn," said he to the young tailor;
"sew the eggs and the young birds in them together again,
so neatly that the shot shall have done them no harm."
Then the tailor took his needle and sewed the eggs as he
was told; and when he had done, the thief was sent to take
them back to the nest, and put them under the bird, without
her knowing it. Then she went on sitting and hatched them;
and in a few days they crawled out, and had only a little
red streak across their necks where the tailor had sewed
them together.
"Well done, sons!" said the old man, "you have made
good use of your time, and learnt something worth the know-
ing; but I am sure I cannot decide which ought to have the
prize. Oh! that the time might soon come for you to turn
your skill to some account!"
Not long after this there was a great bustle in the coun-
try; for the king's daughter had been carried off by a mighty
dragon, and the king mourned over his loss day and night,
and made it known that whoever brought her back to him
should have her for his wife. Then the four brothers said
to each other, "Here is a chance for us: let us try what we
can do." And they agreed to see whether they could not
set the princess free. "I will soon find out where she is, at
any rate," said the star-gazer as he looked through his glass,
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The Princess and the Dragon
240
-zis Mcl_;&M
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The Four Clever Brothers
and soon cried out, "I see her afar off, sitting upon a rock
in the sea, and I can spy the dragon close by, guarding her."
Then he went to the king, and asked for a ship for himself
and his brothers, and went with them upon the sea till they
came to the right place. There they found the princess
sitting, as the star-gazer had said, on the rock, and the dragon
was lying asleep with his head upon her lap. "I dare not
shoot at him," said the huntsman, "for I should kill the
beautiful young lady also." "Then I will try my skill," said
the thief; and went and stole her away from under the
dragon so quickly and gently that the beast did not know
it, but went on snoring.
Then away they hastened with her full of joy in their
boat towards the ship; but soon came the dragon roaring
behind them through the air, for he awoke and missed the
princess; but when he got over the boat, and wanted to
pounce upon them and carry off the princess, the huntsman
took up his bow and shot him straight through the heart, so
that he fell down dead. They were still not safe; for he was
such a great beast, that in his fall he overset the boat, and
they had to swim in the open sea upon a few planks. So
the tailor took his needle, and with a few large stitches put
some of the planks together, and sat down upon them, and
sailed about and gathered up.all the pieces of the boat, and
tacked them together so quickly that the boat was soon
ready, and they then reached the ship ahld got home safe.
When they had brought home the princess to her father,
there was great rejoicing; and he said to the four brothers,
"One of you shall marry her, but you must settle amongst
yourselves which it is to be." Then there arose a quarrel
between them; and the star-gazer said, "If I had not found
the princess out, all your skill would have been of no use:
therefore she ought to be mine." "Your seeing her would
have been of no use," said the thief, "if I had not taken her
away from the dragon: therefore she ought to be mine."
(B 20) 241 Q
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"No, she is mine," said the huntsman; "for if I had not
killed the dragon, he would after all have torn you and the
princess into pieces." "And if I had not sewed the boat
together again," said the tailor, "you would all have been
drowned: therefore she is mine." Then the king put in a
word, and said, "Each of you is right; and as all cannot
have the young lady, the best way is for none of you to
have her; and to make up for the loss, I will give each, as
a reward for his skill, half a kingdom." So the brothers
agreed that would be much better than quarrelling; and the
king then gave each half a kingdom, as he had said; and
they lived very happily for the rest of their days, and took
good care of their father.
The Elfin-Grove
270 00293.jpg
The Elfin-Grove
"I HOPE," said a woodsman one day to his wife, "that the
children will not run into that fir-grove by the side of the
river; who they are that have come to live there I cannot
tell, but I am sure it looks more dark and gloomy than ever,
and some queer-looking beings are to be seen lurking about
it every night, as I am told." The woodsman could not say
that they brought any ill luck as yet, whatever they were;
for all the village had thriven more than ever since they
came; the fields looked gayer and greener, and even the sky
was a deeper blue. Not knowing what to say of them, the
woodsman very wisely let his new friends alone, and in truth
troubled his head very little about them.
That very evening little Mary and her playfellow Martin
were playing at hide-and-seek in the valley. "Where can
he be hid?" said she; "he must have gone into the fir-grove,"
and down she ran to look. Just then she spied a little dog
that jumped round her and wagged his tail, and led her on
towards the wood. Then he ran into it, and she soon jumped
up the bank to look after him, but was overjoyed to see,
instead of a gloomy grove of firs, a delightful garden, where
flowers and shrubs of every kind grew upon turf of the
softest green; gay butterflies flew about her, the birds sang
sweetly, and, what was strangest, the prettiest little children
sported about on all sides, some twining the flowers, and
others dancing in rings upon the shady spots beneath the
trees. In the midst, instead of the hovels of which Mary
had heard, there was a palace that dazzled her eyes with its
brightness. For awhile she gazed on the fairy scene around
her, till at last one of the little dancers ran up to her, and
said, "And you are come at last to see us? we have often
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seen you play about, and wished to have you with us." Then
she plucked some of the fruit that grew near; and Mary at
the first taste forgot her home, and wished only to see and
know more of her fairy friends.
Then they led her about with them and showed her all
their sports. At one time they danced by moonlight on the
primrose banks; at another time they skipped from bough
to bough among the trees that hung over the cooling streams;
for they moved as lightly and easily through the air as on
the ground; and Mary went with them everywhere, for they
bore her in their arms wherever they wished to go. Some-
times they would throw seeds on the turf, and directly little
trees sprang up: and then they would set their feet upon
the branches, while the trees grew under them, till they
danced upon the boughs in the air, wherever the breezes
carried them; and again the trees would sink down into the
earth and land them safely at their bidding. At other times
they would go and visit the palace of their queen; and there
the richest food was spread before them, and the softest
music was heard; and there all around grew flowers which
were always changing their hues, from scarlet to purple and
yellow and emerald. Sometimes they went to look at the
heaps of treasures which were piled up in the royal stores;
for little dwarfs were always employed in searching the earth
for gold. Small as this fairy-land looked from without, it
seemed within to have no end; a mist hung around it to
shield it from the eyes of men; and some of the little elves
sat perched upon the outermost tree, to keep watch lest the
step of man should break in and spoil the charm.
And who are you?" said Mary one day. We are what
are called elves in your world," said one whose name was
Gossamer, and who had become her dearest friend: "we are
told you talk a great deal about us; some of our tribes like
to work you mischief, but we who live here seek only to be
happy: we meddle little with mankind; but when we do come
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S' She gazed on the fairy scene
It M5
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among them, it is to do them good." "And where is your
queen?" said little Mary. "Hush! hush! you cannot see or
know her: you must leave us before she comes back, which
will be now very soon, for mortal step cannot come where
she is. But you will know that she is here when you see the
meadows gayer, the rivers more sparkling, and the sun brighter."
Soon afterwards Gossamer told Mary the time was come
to bid her farewell, and gave her a ring in token of their
friendship, and led her to the edge of the grove. Think of
me," said she; but beware how you tell what you have seen,
or try to visit any of us again, for if you do, we shall quit this
grove and come back no more." Turning back, Mary saw
nothing but the gloomy fir-grove she had known before. How
frightened my father and mother will be!" thought she as she
looked at the sun, which had risen some time. "They will
wonder where I have been all night, and yet I must not tell
them what I have seen." She hastened homewards, wonder-
ing however, as she went, to see that the leaves, which were
yesterday so fresh and green, were now falling dry and yellow
around her. The cottage too seemed changed, and, when she
went in, there sat her father looking some years older than
when she saw him last; and her mother, whom she hardly
knew, was by his side. Close by was a young man; Father,"
said Mary, who is this?" Who are you that call me father?"
said he; "are you-no, you cannot be-our long-lost Mary?"
But they soon saw that it was their Mary; and the young
man, who was her old friend and playfellow Martin, said, No
wonder you had forgotten me in seven years; do you not re-
member how we parted seven years ago while playing in the
field? We thought you were quite lost; but we are glad to
see that someone has taken care of you and brought you home
at last." Mary said nothing, for she could not tell all; but
she wondered at the strange tale, and felt gloomy at the
change from fairy-land to her father's cottage.
Little by little she came to herself, thought of her story as
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The Elfin-Grove
a mere dream, and soon became Martin's bride. Everything
seemed to thrive around them; and Mary called her first little
girl Elfie, in memory of her friends. The little thing was
loved by everyone. It was pretty and very good-tempered;
Mary thought that it was very like a little elf; and all, with-
out knowing why, called it the fairy child.
One day, while Mary was dressing her little Elfie, she
found a piece of gold hanging round her neck by a silken
thread, and knew it to be of the same sort as she had seen in
the hands of the fairy dwarfs. Elfie seemed sorry at its being
seen, and said that she had found it in the garden. But Mary
watched her, and soon found that she went every afternoon to
sit by herself in a shady place behind the house: so one day
she hid herself to see what the child did there; and to her
great wonder Gossamer was sitting by her side. Dear Elfie,"
she was saying, "your mother and I used to sit thus when she
was young and lived among us. Oh! if you could but come
and do so too! but since our queen came to us it cannot be;
yet I will come and see you and talk to you, whilst you are a
child; when you grow up we must part for ever." Then she
plucked one of the roses that grew around them and breathed
gently upon it, and said, Take this for my sake. It will keep
its freshness a whole year."
Then Mary loved her little Elfie more than ever; and
when she found that she spent some hours of almost every
day with the elf, she used to hide herself and watch them
without being seen, till one day when Gossamer was bearing
her little friend through the air from tree to tree, her mother
was so frightened lest her child should fall that she could not
help screaming out, and Gossamer set her gently on the
ground and seemed angry, and flew away. But still she used
sometimes to come and play with her little friend, and would
soon have done so perhaps the same as before, had not Mary
one day told her husband the whole story, for she could not
bear to hear him always wondering and laughing at their little
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Grimm's Fairy Tales
child's odd ways, and saying he was sure there was something
in the fir-grove that brought them no good. So to show him
that all she said was true, she took him to see Elfie and the
fairy; but no sooner did Gossamer know that he was there
(which she did in an instant), than she changed herself into a
raven and flew off into the fir-grove.
Mary burst into tears, and so did Elfie, for she knew she
should see her dear friend no more: but Martin was restless,
and bent upon following up his search after the fairies; so
when night came he stole away towards the grove. When he
came to it nothing was to be seen but the gloomy firs and the
old hovels; and the thunder rolled, and the wind groaned and
whistled through the trees. It seemed that all about him was
angry; so he turned homewards frightened at what he had done.
In the morning all the neighbours flocked around, asking
one another what the noise and bustle of the last night could
mean; and when they looked about them, their trees looked
blighted, and the meadows parched, the streams were dried
up, and everything seemed troubled and sorrowful; but they
all thought that somehow or other the fir-grove had not near
so forbidding a look as it used to have. Strange stories were
told, how one had heard flutterings in the air, another had
seen the fir-grove as it were alive with little beings that flew
away from it. Each neighbour told his tale, and all wondered
what could have happened; but Mary and her husband knew
what was the matter, and bewailed their folly; for they fore-
saw that their kind neighbours, to whom they owed all their
luck, were gone for ever. Among the by-standers none told a
wilder story than the old ferryman who plied across the river
at the foot of the grove. He told how at midnight his boat
was carried away, and how hundreds of little beings seemed
to load it with treasures; how a strange piece of gold was left
for him in the boat, as his fare; how the air seemed full of
fairy forms fluttering around; and how at last a great train
passed over that seemed to be guarding their leader to the
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The Elfin-Grove
meadows on the other side; and how he heard soft music
floating around as they flew; and how sweet voices sang as
they hovered over his head,
Fairy Queen!
Fairy Queen!
Mortal steps are on the green;
Come away
Haste away!
Fairies, guard your Queen
Hither, hither, fairy Queen
Lest thy silvery wing be seen:
O'er the sky
Fly, fly, fly!
Fairies, guard your lady Queen!
O'er the sky
Fly, fly, fly!
Fairies, guard your Queen!
Fairy Queen!
Fairy Queen I
Thou hast pass'd the treach'rous scene;
Now we may
Down and play
O'er the daisied green.
Lightly, lightly, fairy Queen!
Trip it gently o'er the green:
Fairies gay
Trip away
Round about your lady Queen!
Fairies gay,
Trip away
Round about your Queen!
Poor Elfie mourned their loss the most, and would spend
whole hours in looking upon the rose that her playfellow had
given her, and singing over it the pretty airs she had taught
her; till at length when the year's charm had passed away
and it began to fade, she planted the stalk in her garden, and
there it grew and grew till she could sit under the shade of it
and think of her friend Gossamer.
?49
The Robber-Bridegroom
277 00300.jpg
The Robber-Bridegroom
THERE was once a miller who had a pretty daughter; and
when she was grown up, he thought to himself, If a seemly
man should come to ask her for his wife, I will give her to
him that she may be taken care of." Now it so happened
that one did come, who seemed to be very rich, and behaved
very well; and as the miller saw no reason to find fault with
him, he said he should have his daughter. Yet the maiden
did not love him quite so well as a bride ought to love her
bridegroom, but, on the other hand, soon began to feel a
kind of inward shuddering whenever she saw or thought of
him.
One day he said to her, "Why do you not come and
see my home, since you are to be my bride?" "I do not
know where your house is," said the girl. "'Tis out there,"
said her bridegroom, "yonder, in the dark green wood."
Then she began to try and avoid going, and said, "But I
cannot find the way thither." "Well, but you must come
and see me next Sunday," said the bridegroom; "I have
asked some guests to meet you, and that you may find your
way through the wood, I will strew ashes for you along the
path."
When Sunday came and the maiden was to go out, she
felt very much troubled, and took care to put on two pockets,
and filled them with peas and beans. She soon came to
the wood, and found her path strewed with ashes; so she
followed the track, and at every step threw a pea on the
right and a bean on the left side of the road; and thus she
journeyed on the whole day till she came to a house which
stood in the middle of the dark wood. She saw no one
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The Robber-Bridegroom
within, and all was quite still, till on a sudden she heard a
voice cry:
"Turn again, bonny bride!
Turn again home!
Haste from the robber's den,
Haste away home!"
She looked around, and saw a little bird sitting in a cage that
hung over the door; and he flapped his wings, and again she
heard him cry:
"Turn again, bonny bride!
Turn again home!
Haste from the robber's den,
Haste away home!"
However, the bride went in, and roamed along from one room
to another, and so over all the house; but it was quite empty,
and not a soul could she see. At last she came to a room
where a very very old woman was sitting. Pray, can you tell
me, my good woman," said she, "if my bridegroom lives here?"
" Ah! my dear child!" said the old woman, "you are come to
fall into the trap laid for you: your wedding can only be with
Death, for the robber will surely take away your life! If I
do not save you, you are lost!" so she hid the bride behind
a large cask, and then said to her, Do not stir or move your-
self at all lest some harm should befall you; and when the
robbers are asleep we will run off; I have long wished to
get away."
She had hardly done this when the robbers came in,
and brought another young maiden with them that had
been ensnared like the bride. Then they began to feast
and drink, and were deaf to her shrieks and groans: and they
gave her some wine to drink, three glasses, one of white,
one of red, and one of yellow; upon which she fainted and
fell down dead. Now the bride began to grow very uneasy
behind the cask, and thought that she too must die in her
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Grimm's Fairy Tales
turn. Then the man that was to be her bridegroom saw
that there was a gold ring on the little finger of the maiden
they had murdered; and as he tried to snatch it off, it flew up
in the air and fell down again behind the cask just in the
bride's lap. So he took a light, and searched about all round
the room for it, but could not find anything; and another
of the robbers said, "Have you looked behind the large
cask yet?" "Pshaw!" said the old woman. "Come, sit
still and eat your supper now, and leave the ring alone till
to-morrow; it won't run away, I'll warrant."
So the robbers gave up the search, and went on with their
eating and drinking; but the old woman dropped a sleeping-
draught into their wine, and they laid themselves down and
slept, and snored roundly. And when the bride heard this,
she stepped out from behind the cask; and as she was forced
to walk over the sleepers, who were lying about on the floor,
she trembled lest she should awaken some of them. But
Heaven aided her, so that she soon got through her danger;
and the old woman went upstairs with her, and they both ran
away from this murderous den. The ashes that had been
strewed were now all blown away, but the peas and beans had
taken root and were springing up, and showed her the way by
the light of the moon. So they walked the whole night,
and in the morning reached the mill; when the bride told
her father all that had happened to her.
As soon as the day arrived when the wedding was to
take place, the bridegroom came; and the miller gave orders
that all his friends and relations should be asked to the feast.
And as they were all sitting at table, one of them proposed
that each of the guests should tell some tale. Then the
bridegroom said to the bride, when it came to her turn,
"Well, my dear, do you know nothing? come, tell us some
story." "Yes," answered she, "I can tell you a dream that
I dreamt. I once thought I was going through a wood, and
went on and on till I came to a house where there was
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p
"They gave her some wine to drink"
i ''=-V
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Grimm's Fairy Tales
not a soul to be seen, but a bird in a cage, that cried out
twice:
'Turn again, bonny bride
Turn again home!
Haste from the robber's den,
Haste away home l'
-I only dreamt that, my love. Then I went through all the
rooms, which were quite empty, until I came to a room where
there sat a very old woman! and I said to her, 'Does my
bridegroom live here?' But she answered, 'Ah! my dear child!
you have fallen into a murderer's snare; your bridegroom will
surely kill you';-I only dreamt that, my love. But she hid
me behind a large cask; and hardly had she done this, when
the robbers came in dragging a young woman along with
them; then they gave her three kinds of wine to drink-
white, red, and yellow, till she fell dead upon the ground;-
I only dreamt that, my love. After they had done this, one
of the robbers saw that there was a gold ring on her little
finger, and snatched at it; but it flew up to the ceiling,
and then fell behind the great cask just where I was, and
into my lap; and here is the ring!" At these words she
brought out the ring and showed it to the guests.
When the robber saw all this, and heard what she said,
he grew as pale as ashes with fright, and wanted to run
off; but the guests held him fast and gave him up to justice,
so that he and all his gang met with the due reward of
their wickedness.
282 00305.jpg
The Little Girl goes to find her Spindle
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Mother Holle
283 00307.jpg
Mother Holle
A WIDOW had two daughters; one of them was very pretty
and thrifty, but the other was ugly and idle.
Odd as you may think it, she loved the ugly and idle one
much the best, and the other was made to do all the work,
and was, in short, quite the drudge of the whole house. Every
day she had to sit on a bench by a well at the side of the
road before the house, and spin so much that her fingers were
quite sore, and at length the blood would come. Now it
happened that once when her fingers had bled and the
spindle was all bloody, she dipt it into the well to wash it,
but unluckily it fell from her hand and dropt in. Then she
ran crying to her mother, and told her what had happened;
but her mother scolded her sharply, and said, If you have
been so silly as to let the spindle fall in, you must get it out
again as well as you can." So the poor little girl went back to
the well, and knew not how to begin, but in her sorrow threw
herself into the water and sank down to the bottom senseless.
In a short time she seemed to wake as from a trance, and
came to herself again; and when she opened her eyes and
looked around, she saw she was in a beautiful meadow, where
the sun shone brightly, the birds sang sweetly on the boughs,
and thousands of flowers sprang beneath her feet.
Then she rose up, and walked along this delightful
meadow, and came to a pretty cottage by the side of a wood;
and when she went in she saw an oven full of new bread
baking, and the bread said, "Pull me out! pull me out! or I
shall be burnt, for I am quite done enough!" So she stepped
up quickly, and took it all out. Then she went on farther,
and came to a tree that was full of fine rosy-cheeked apples,
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Grimm's Fairy Tales
and it said to her, Shake me! shake me! we are all quite
ripe!" So she shook the tree, and the apples fell down like a
shower, until there were no more upon the tree. Then she
went on again, and at length came to a small cottage where
an old woman was sitting at the door: the little girl would
have run away, but the old woman called out after her:
" Don't be frightened, my dear child! stay with me, I should
like to have you for my little maid, and if you do all the
work in the house neatly you shall fare well; but take care to
make my bed nicely, and shake it every morning out at the
door, so that the feathers may fly, for then the good people
below say it snows.-I am Mother Holle."
As the old woman spoke so kindly to her, the girl was
willing to do as she said; so she stayed with her, and took
care to do everything to please her, and always shook the
bed well, so that she led a very quiet life with her, and
every day had good meat, both boiled and roast, to eat for
her dinner.
But when she had been some time with the old lady, she
became sorrowful, and although she was much better off there
than with her own mother, still she had a longing towards
home, and at length said to her mistress, I used to grieve at
my troubles at home, but if they were all to come again, and
I were sure of faring ever so well here, I could not stay any
longer." "You are right," said her mistress; "you shall do as
you like; and as you have worked for me so faithfully, I will
myself show you the way back again." Then she took her by
the hand and led her behind her cottage, and opened a door,
and as the girl stood underneath there fell a heavy shower of
gold, so that she held out her apron and caught a great deal
of it. And the fairy put a shining golden dress over her, and
said, "All this you shall have because you have behaved so
well;" and she gave her back the spindle too which had fallen
into the well, and led her out by another door. When it shut
behind her, she found herself not far from her mother's house;
285 00309.jpg
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" She held out her apron "
(B 200)
286 00310.jpg
Grimm's Fairy Tales
and as she went into the courtyard the cock sat upon the
well-head, and clapt his wings, and cried out-
Cock a-doodle-doo!
Our golden lady's come home again!"
Then she went into the house, and as she was so rich she
was welcomed home. When her mother heard how she got
these riches, she wanted to have the same luck for her ugly
and idle daughter, so she too was told to sit by the well and
spin. That her spindle might be bloody, she pricked her
fingers with it, and when'that would not do she thrust her
hand into a thorn-bush. Then she threw the spindle into the
well and sprang in herself after it. Like her sister, she came
to a beautiful meadow, and followed the same path. When
she came to the oven in the cottage, the bread called out
as before, "Take me out! take me out! or I shall burn, I am
quite done enough!" But the lazy girl said, A pretty story
indeed! as if I should dirty myself for you!" and went on her
way. She soon came to the apple-tree that cried, "Shake
me! shake me! for my apples are quite ripe!" but she an-
swered, I will take care how I do that, for one of you might
fall upon my head;" so she went on. At length she came to
Mother Holle's house, and readily agreed to be her maid.
The first day she behaved herself very well, and did what her
mistress told her, for she thought of the gold she would give
her; but the second day she began to be lazy, and the third
became still more so, for she would not get up in the morning
early enough, and when she did she made the bed very badly,
and did not shake it so that the feathers would fly out.
Mother Holle was soon tired of her, and turned her off; but
the lazy girl was quite pleased at that, and thought to herself,
" Now the golden rain will come." Then the fairy took her
to the same door; but when she stood under it, instead of
gold a great kettle full of dirty pitch came showering upon
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287 00311.jpg
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"She soon came to the apple-tree"
b\
rep,
rp'
288 00312.jpg
Grimm's Fairy Tales
her. "That is your wages," said Mother Holle as she shut
the door upon her. So she went home quite black with the
pitch, and as she came near her mother's house the cock sat
upon the well, and clapt his wings, and cried out-
"Cock a-doodle-doo !
Our dirty slut's come home again!"
The Five Servants
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The- Five Servants
A LONG time ago there reigned in a country many thousands
of miles off an old queen who was very spiteful and delighted
in nothing so much as mischief. She had one daughter, who
was thought to be the most beautiful princess in the world;
but her mother only made use of her as a trap for the unwary;
and whenever any suitor who had heard of her beauty came
to seek her in marriage, the only answer the old lady gave
to him was, that he must undertake some very hard task and
forf it his life if he failed. Many, led by the report of the
princess's charms, undertook these tasks, but failed in doing
what the queen set them to do. No mercy was ever shown
them; but the word was given at once, and off their heads
were cut.
Now it happened that a prince, who lived in a country
far off, heard of the great beauty of this young lady, and
said to his father, Dear father, let me go and try my luck."
"No," said the king; "if you go, you will surely lose your
life." The prince, however, had set his heart so much upon
the scheme, that when he found his father was against it he
fell very ill, and took to his bed for seven years, and no art
could cure him, or recover his lost spirits: so when his father
saw that if he went on thus he would die, he said to him, with
a heart full of grief, If it must be so, go and try your luck."
At this he rose from his bed, recovered his health and spirits,
and went forward on his way light of heart and full of joy.
Then on he journeyed over hill and dale, through fair
weather and foul, till one day, as he was riding through a
wood, he thought he saw afar off some large animal upon
the ground, and as he drew near he found that it was a man
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lying along upon the grass under the trees; but he looked
more like a mountain than a man, he was so fat and jolly.
When this big fellow saw the traveller, he arose, and said,
"If you want anyone to wait upon you, you will do well
to take me into your service." "What should I do with such
a fat fellow as you?" said the prince. "It would be nothing
to you if I were three thousand times as fat," said the man,
"so that I do but behave myself well." "That's true," an-
swered the prince, "so come with me; I can put you to some
use or another, I dare say."
Then the fat man rose up and followed the prince, and
by and by they saw another man lying on the ground with
his ear close to the turf. The prince said, "What are you
doing there?" "I am listening," answered the man. "To
what?" "To. all that is going on in the world, for I can
hear everything, I can even hear the grass grow." "Tell
me," said the prince, "what you hear is going on at the court
of the old queen, who has the beautiful daughter." I hear,"
said the listener, "the noise of the sword that is cutting off
the head of one of her suitors." "Well!" said the prince,
"I see I shall be able to make you of use;-come along
with me!" They had not gone far before they saw a pair
of feet, and then part of the legs of a man stretched out; but
they were so long that they could not see the rest of the
body, till they had passed on a good deal farther, and at last
they came to the body, and after going on a good deal farther,
to the head. "Bless me!" said the prince, "what a long rope
you are!" "Oh!" answered the tall man, "this is nothing;
when I choose to stretch myself to my full length, I am
three times as high as any mountain you have seen on your
travels, I warrant you; I will willingly do what I can to
serve you if you will let me." "Come along then," said the
prince, "I can turn you to account in some way."
The prince and his train went on farther into the wood,
and next saw a man lying by the roadside basking in the
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The Five Servants
heat of the sun, yet shaking and shivering all over, so that
not a limb lay still. "What makes you shiver," said the
prince, "while the sun is shining so warm?" "Alas!" an-
swered the man, "the warmer it is, the colder I am; the
sun only seems to me like a sharp frost that thrills through
all my bones; and on the other hand, when others are what
you call cold I begin to be warm, so that I can neither bear
the ice for its heat nor the fire for its cold." "You are a
queer fellow," said the prince; "but if you have nothing else
to do, come along with me." The next thing they saw was
a man standing, stretching his neck and looking around him
from hill to hill. "What are you looking for so eagerly?"
said the prince. "I have such sharp eyes," said the man,
"that I can see over woods and fields and hills and dales;
-in short, all over the world." "Well," said the prince,
"come with me if you will, for I want one more to make
up my train."
Then they all journeyed on, and met with no one else
till they came to the city where the beautiful princess lived.
The prince went straight to the old queen, and said, "Here
I am, ready to do any task you set me, if you will give me
your daughter as a reward when I have done." "I will set
you three tasks," said the queen; "and if you get through
all, you shall be the husband of my daughter. First, you
must bring me a ring which I dropped in the red sea." The
prince went home to his friends and said, "The first task
is not an easy one; it is to fetch a ring out of the red sea,
so lay your heads together and say what is to be done."
Then the sharp-sighted one said, "I will see where it lies,"
and looked down into the sea, and cried out, "There it lies
upon a rock at the bottom." "I would fetch it out," said
the tall man, "if I could but see it." "Well!" cried out the
fat one, I will help you to do that," and laid himself down
and held his mouth to the water, and drank up the waves
till the bottom of the sea was as dry as a meadow. Then
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the tall man stooped a little and pulled out the ring with
his hand, and the prince took it to the old queen, who looked
at it, and wondering said, "It is indeed the right ring; you
have gone through this task well: but now comes the
second; look yonder at the meadow before my palace; see!
a hundred fat oxen are feeding there; you must eat them
all up before noon: and underneath in my cellar there are
a hundred casks of wine, which you must drink all up."
"May I not invite some guests to share the feast with me?"
said the prince. "Why, yes!" said the old woman with a
spiteful laugh; "you may ask one of your friends to break-
fast with you, but no more."
Then the prince went home and said to the fat man,
"You must be my guest to-day, and for once you shall eat
your fill." So the fat man set to work and ate the hundred
oxen without leaving a bit, and asked if that was to be all
he should have for his breakfast? and he drank the wine
out of the casks without leaving a drop, licking even his
fingers when he had done. When the meal was ended, the
prince went to the old woman and told her the second task
was done. "Your work is not all over, however," muttered
the old hag to herself; "I will catch you yet! you shall not
keep your head upon your shoulders if I can help it. This
evening," said she, I will bring my daughter into your house
and leave her with you; you shall sit together there, but take
care that you do not fall asleep; for I shall come when the
clock strikes twelve, and if she is not then with you, you are
undone." "Oh!" thought the prince, "it is an easy task to
keep such a watch as that; I will take care to keep my eyes
open." So he called his servants and told them all that the
old woman had said. "Who knows, though," said he, "but
there may be some trick at the bottom of this? it is as well
to be upon our guard and keep watch that the young lady
does not get away."
When it was night the old woman brought her daughter
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The Prince and his Servants on watch
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to the prince's house; then the tall man twisted himself round
about it, the listener put his ear to the ground, .the fat man
placed himself before the door so that no living soul could
enter, and the sharp-eyed one looked out afar and watched.
Within sat the princess without saying a word, but the moon
shone bright through the window upon her face, and the
prince gazed upon her wonderful beauty. And while he
looked upon her with a heart full of joy and love, his eyelids
did not droop; but at eleven o'clock the old woman cast a
charm over them so that they all fell asleep, and the princess
vanished in a moment.
And thus they slept till a quarter to twelve, when the
charm had no longer any power over them, and they all
awoke. "Alas! alas! woe is me," cried the prince; "now I
am lost for ever." And his faithful servants began to weep
over their unhappy lot; but the listener said, "Be still and
I will listen;" so he listened awhile, and cried out, "I hear
her bewailing her fate;" and the sharp-sighted man looked,
and said, "I see her sitting on a rock three hundred miles
hence; now help us, my tall friend; if you stand up, you
will reach her in two steps." "Very well," answered the tall
man; and in an instant, before one could turn one's head
round, he was at the foot of the enchanted rock. Then the
tall man took the young lady in his arms and carried her
back to the prince a moment before it struck twelve; and
they all sat down again and made merry. And when the
clock struck twelve the old queen came sneaking by with
a spiteful look, as if she was going to say, Now he is mine";
nor could she think otherwise, for she knew that her daughter
was but the moment before on the rock three hundred miles
off; but when she came and saw her daughter in the prince's
room she started, and said, "There is somebody here who
can do more than I can." However, she now saw that she
could no longer avoid giving the prince her daughter for
a wife, but said to her in a whisper, "It is a shame that you
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The Five Servants
should be won by servants, and not have a husband of your
own choice."
Now the young lady was of a very proud haughty temper,
and her anger was raised to such a pitch, that the next morn-
ing she ordered three hundred loads of wood to be brought
and piled up; and told the prince it was true he had by the
help of his servants done the three tasks, but that before she
would marry him someone must sit upon that pile of wood
when it was set on fire and bear the heat. She thought to
herself that though his servants had done everything else
for him, none of them would go so far as to burn themselves
for him, and that then she should put his love to the test
by seeing whether he would sit upon it himself. But she
was mistaken; for when the servants heard this, they said,
"We have all done something but the frosty man; now his
turn is come;" and they took him and put him on the wood,
and set it on fire. Then the fire rose and burned for three
long days, till all the wood was gone; and when it was out,
the frosty man stood in the midst of the ashes trembling like
an aspen-leaf, and said, "I never shivered so much in my
life; if it had lasted much longer, I should have lost the use
of my limbs."
When the princess had no longer any plea for delay, she
saw that she was bound to marry the prince; but when they
were going to church, the old woman said, "I will never
consent;" and sent secret orders out to her horsemen to kill
and slay all before them, and bring back her daughter before
she could be married. However, the listener had pricked
up his ears and heard all that the old woman said, and told
it to the prince. So they made haste and got to the church
first, and were married; and then the five servants took their
leave and went away saying, "We will go and try our luck
in the world on our own account."
The prince set out with his wife, and at the end of the
first day's journey came to a village, where a swineherd was
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feeding his swine: and as they came near he said to his wife,
"Do you know who I am? I am not a prince, but a poor
swineherd; he whom you see yonder with the swine is my
father, and our business will be to help him to tend them."
Then he went into the swineherd's hut with her, and ordered
her royal clothes to be taken away in the night; so that
when she awoke in the morning she had nothing to put on,
till the woman who lived there made a great favour of giving
her an old gown and a pair of worsted stockings. "If it
were not for your husband's sake," said she, "I would not
have given you anything." Then the poor princess gave
herself up for lost, and believed that her husband must indeed
be a swineherd; but she thought she would make the best
of it, and began to help him to feed them, and said, "It is
a just reward for my pride."
When this had lasted eight days she could bear it no
longer, for her feet were all over wounds, and as she sat down
and wept by the wayside, some people came up to her and
pitied her, and asked if she knew what her husband really
was. "Yes," said she; "a swineherd; he is just gone out
to market with some of his stock." But they said, "Come
along and we will take you to him;" and they took her over
the hill to the palace of the prince's father; and when they
came into the hall, there stood her husband so richly dressed
in his royal clothes that she did not know him till he fell
upon her neck and kissed her, and said, I have borne much
for your sake, and you too have also borne a great deal for
me." Then the guests were sent for, and the marriage feast
was given, and all made merry and danced and sang, and
the best wish that I can wish is, that you and I had been
there too.
The Seven Ravens
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The Seven Ravens
THERE was once a man who had seven sons, and last of
all one daughter. Although the little girl was very pretty,
she was so weak and small that they thought she could not
live; but they said she should at once be christened.
So the father sent one of his sons in haste to the spring
to get some water, but the other six ran with him. Each
wanted to be first at drawing the water, and so they were
in such a hurry that all let their pitchers fall into the well,
and they stood very foolishly looking at one another, and
did not know what to do, for none dared go home. In the
meantime the father was uneasy, and could not tell what
made the young men stay so long. "Surely," said he, "the
whole seven must have forgotten themselves over some game
of play;" and when he had waited still longer and they yet
did not come, he flew into a rage and wished them all turned
into ravens. Scarcely had he spoken these words when he
heard a croaking over his head, and looked up and saw seven
ravens as black as coal flying round and round. Sorry as
he was to see his wish so fulfilled, he did not know how what
was done could be undone, and comforted himself as well
as he could for the loss of his seven sons with his dear
little daughter, who soon became stronger and every day
more beautiful.
For a long time she did not know that she had ever had
any brothers; for her father and mother took care not to
speak of them before her: but one day by chance she heard
the people about her speak of them. "Yes," said they,
"she is beautiful indeed, but still 'tis a pity that her brothers
should have been lost for her sake." Then she was much
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grieved, and went to her father and mother, and asked if
she had any brothers, and what had become of them. So
they dared no longer hide the truth from her, but said it
was the will of Heaven, and that her birth was only the
innocent cause of it; but the little girl mourned sadly about
it every day, and thought herself bound to do all she could
to bring her brothers back; and she had neither rest nor
ease, till at length one day she stole away, and set out into
the wide world to find her brothers, wherever they might be,
and free them, whatever it might cost her.
She took nothing with her but a little ring which her
father and mother had given her, a loaf of bread in case
she should be hungry, a little pitcher of water in case she
should be thirsty, and a little stool to rest upon when she
should be weary. Thus she went on and on, and journeyed
till she came to the world's end; then she came to the sun,
but the sun looked much too hot and fiery; so she ran away
quickly to the moon, but the moon was cold and chilly, and
said, I smell flesh and blood this way!" So she took herself
away in a hurry and came to the stars; and the stars were
friendly and kind to her, and each star sat upon his own
little stool. The morning-star rose up and gave her a little
piece of wood, and said, "If you have not this little piece
of wood, you cannot unlock the castle that stands on the
glass-mountain, and there your brothers live." The little
girl took the piece of wood, rolled it up in a little cloth, and
went on again until she came to the glass-mountain. There
she found the door shut. Then she felt for the little piece of
wood: but when she unwrapped the cloth it was not there,
and she saw she had lost the gift of the good stars. What
was to be done? she wanted to save her brothers, and had
no key of the castle of the glass-mountain; so this faithful
little sister took a knife out of her pocket and cut off her
little finger, which was just the size of the piece of wood she
had lost, and put it into the lock and opened the door,
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I...
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The little Girl and the Stars
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Grimm's Fairy Tales
As she went in, a little dwarf came up to her, and said,
"What are you seeking for?" "I seek for my brothers, the
seven ravens," answered she. Then the dwarf said, "My
masters are not at home; but if you will wait till they
come, pray step in." Now the little dwarf was getting
their dinner ready, and he brought their food upon seven
little plates, and their drink in seven little glasses, and
set them upon the table, and out of each little plate their
sister ate a small piece, and out of each little glass she
drank a small drop; but she let the ring that she had brought
with her fall into the last glass.
On a sudden she heard a fluttering and croaking in the
air, and the dwarf said, "Here come my masters." When
they came in, they wanted to eat and drink, and looked
for their little plates and glasses. Then said one after the
other, "Who has eaten from my little plate? and who has
been drinking out of my little glass?
Caw! caw! well I ween
Mortal lips have this way been."
When the seventh came to the bottom of his glass, and
found there the ring, he looked at it, and knew that it
had belonged to his father and mother, and said, "Oh, that
our little sister would but come! then we should be free."
When the little girl heard this (for she stood behind the door
all the time and listened), she ran forward, and in an instant
all the ravens took their right form again; and all hugged
and kissed each other, and went merrily home.
301 00325.jpg
I ~
Hans makes a Bargain
114i
I
Hans in Luck
302 00327.jpg
Hans in Luck
HANS had served his master seven years, and at last said to
him, "Master, my time is up, I should like to go home and
see my mother; so give me my wages."
And the master said, "You have been a faithful and good
servant, so your pay shall be handsome."
Then he gave him a piece of silver that was as big as his
head.
Hans took out his handkerchief, put the silver into it,
threw it over his shoulder, and jogged off homewards. As
he went lazily on, dragging one foot after the other, a man
came in sight, trotting along gaily on a capital horse.
"Ah!" said Hans aloud, "what a fine thing it is to ride
on horseback! there he sits as if he were at home in his
chair; he trips against no stones, spares his shoes, and yet
gets on he hardly knows how."
The horseman heard this, and said, Well, Hans, why do
you go on foot then?"
"Ah!" said he, "I have this load to carry; to be sure
it is silver, but it is so heavy that I can't hold up my head,
and it hurts my shoulder sadly."
"What do you say to changing?" said the horseman; "I
will give you my horse, and you shall give me the silver."
"With all my heart," said Hans: "but I tell you one
thing,-you'll have a weary task to drag it along."
The horseman got off, took the silver, helped Hans up,
gave him the bridle into his hand, and said, When you
want to go very fast, you must smack your lips -loud, and
cry 'Jip'."
Hans was delighted as he sat on the horse, and rode
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Grimm's Fairy Tales
merrily on. After a time he thought he should like to
go a little faster, so he smacked his lips, and cried "Jip".
Away went the horse full gallop; and before Hans knew
what he was about, he was thrown off, and lay in a ditch
by the roadside; and his horse would have run off, if a
shepherd who was coming by, driving a cow, had not stopped
it. Hans soon came to himself, and got upon his legs again.
He was sadly vexed, and said to the shepherd, This riding
is no joke when a man gets on a beast like this, that stumbles
and flings him off as if he would break his neck. However,
I'm off now once for all. I like your cow a great deal better;
one can walk along at one's leisure behind her, and have milk,
butter, and cheese every day into the bargain. What would
I give to have such a cow!"
"Well," said the shepherd, "if you are so fond of her, I
will change my cow for your horse."
"Done!" said Hans merrily.
The shepherd jumped upon the horse and away he rode.
Hans drove off his cow quietly, and thought his bargain a
very lucky one.
"If I have only a piece of bread (and I certainly shall be
able to get that), I can, whenever I like, eat my butter and
cheese with it; and when I am thirsty I can drink the milk:
what can I wish for more?"
When he came to an inn, he halted, ate up all his bread,
and gave his last penny for something to drink. Then he
drove his cow towards his mother's village. The heat grew
greater as noon came on, till at last he found himself on
a wide heath that would take him more than an hour to cross,
and he began to be so hot and parched that his tongue stuck
to the roof of his mouth.
I can find a cure for this," thought he; "now will I milk
my cow and quench my thirst." So he tied her to the stump
of a tree, and held his leather cap to milk into; but not a
drop was to be had. While he was trying his luck and
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Hans starts for home
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Grimm's Fairy Tales
managing the matter very clumsily, the uneasy beast gave
him a kick on the head that knocked him down, and there he
lay a long while senseless. Luckily a butcher soon came by
driving a pig in a wheel-barrow.
'What is the matter with you?" said the butcher as he
helped him up.
Hans told him what had happened, and the butcher gave
him a flask, saying, There, drink and refresh yourself; your
cow will give you no milk, she is an old beast, good for
nothing but the slaughter-house."
"Alas, alas!" said Hans, "who would have thought it! If
I kill her, what will she be good for? I hate cow-beef, it is
not tender enough for me. If it were a pig now, it would at
any rate make some sausages."
"Well," said the butcher, "to please you, I'll change, and
give you the pig for the cow."
"Heaven reward you for your kindness!" said Hans as he
gave the butcher the cow, and took the pig off the wheel-
barrow, and drove it off, holding it by the string that was tied
to its leg.
So on he jogged, and all seemed now to go right with him.
He had met with some misfortunes, to be sure; but he was
now well repaid for all. The next person he met was a
countryman carrying a fine white goose under his arm. The
countryman stopped to ask the time; and Hans told him how
he had made so many good bargains. The countryman said
he was taking the goose to a christening; "Feel," said he,
"how heavy it is, and yet it is only eight weeks old. Who-
ever roasts and eats it may cut plenty of fat off it!"
"You're right," said Hans, as he weighed it in his hand;
"but my pig is no trifle."
Meantime the countryman began to look grave, and shook
his head.
"Hark ye," said he, my good friend; your pig may get
you into a scrape; in the village I have just come from, the
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Hans exchanges the Pig for the Goose
T.- -jI
A. O^f
fJL
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Hans in Luck
squire has had a pig stolen out of his stye. I was dreadfully
afraid, when I saw you, that you had got the squire's pig; it
will be a bad job if they catch you; the least they'll do, will
be to throw you into the horsepond."
Poor Hans was sadly frightened. "Pray get me out of
this scrape," cried he; "you know this country better than I,
take my pig and give me the goose."
"I ought to have something into the bargain," said the
countryman; "however, I will not bear hard upon you, as you
are in trouble." Then he took the string in his hand, and
drove off the pig by a side path; while Hans went on the way
homewards free from care.
"After all," thought he, I have the best of the bargain:
first there will be a capital roast; then the fat will find me
in goose-grease for six months; and then there are all the
beautiful white feathers; I will put them into my pillow, and
then I am sure I shall sleep soundly without rocking."
As he came to the last village, he saw a scissors-grinder,
with his wheel, working away, and singing-
"O'er hill and o'er dale so happy I roam,
Work light and live well, all the world is my home;
Who so blythe, so merry as I?"
Hans stood looking for a while, and at last said, "You must
be well off, master grinder, you seem so happy at your
work."
"Yes," said the other, "mine is a golden trade; a good
grinder never puts his hand in his pocket without finding
money in it:-but where did you get that beautiful goose?"
"I did not buy it, but changed a pig for it."
"And where did you get the pig?"
"I gave a cow for it."
"And the cow?"
"I gave a horse for it."
"And the horse?"
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Grimm's Fairy Tales
I gave a piece of silver as big as my head for that."
"And the silver?"
Oh! I worked hard for that seven long years."
"You have thriven well in the world hitherto," said the
grinder; "now if you could find money in your pocket when-
ever you put your hand into it, your fortune would be made."
"Very true: but how is that to be managed?"
"You must turn grinder like me," said the other; "you
only want a grindstone; the rest will come of itself. Here
is one that is little the worse for wear: I would not ask more
than the value of your goose for it;-will you buy?"
"How can you ask such a question?" replied Hans: "I
should be the happiest man in the world, if I could have
money whenever I put my hand in my pocket; what could
I want more? there's the goose!"
Now," said the grinder, as he gave him a common rough
stone that lay by his side, "this is a most capital stone; do
but manage it cleverly, and you can make an old nail cut with
it."
Hans took the stone and went off with a light heart: his
eyes sparkled for joy, and he said to himself, I must have
been born in a lucky hour; everything that I want or wish
for comes to me of itself."
Meantime he began to be tired, for he had been travelling
ever since daybreak; he was hungry, too, for he had given
away his last penny in his joy at getting the cow. At last
he could go no farther, and the stone tired him terribly. He
dragged himself to the side of a pond, that he might drink
some water, and rest awhile, and he laid the stone carefully
by his side on the bank; but as he stooped down to drink, he
forgot it, pushed it a little, and down it went plump into the
pond. For a while he watched it sinking in the clear water,
then sprang up for joy, and again fell upon his knees, and
thanked Heaven with tears in his eyes for taking away his
only plague, the ugly heavy stone.
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Hans watches the Stone sinking
_-*pl68bBOLPYC-' iCI--
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Hans in Luck
"How happy am I!" cried he: "no mortal was ever so
lucky as I am."
Then up he got with a light and merry heart, and walked
on free from all his troubles till he reached his mother's house.
0
Mrs. Fox
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Mrs. Fox
THERE was once a sly old fox with nine tails, who was very
curious to know whether his wife was true to him: so he
stretched himself out under a bench, and pretended to be
dead as a mouse.
Then Mrs. Fox went up into her own room and locked
the door: but her maid, the cat, sat at the kitchen fire cook-
ing; and soon after it became known that the old fox was
dead, someone knocked at the door, saying,
"Miss Pussy! Miss Pussy! how fare you to-day?
Are you sleeping or watching the time away?"
Then the cat went and opened the door, and there stood
a young fox; so she said to him,
"No, no, Master Fox, I don't sleep in the day,
I'm making some capital white wine whey.
Will your honour be pleased to dinner to stay?"
"No, I thank you," said the fox; "but how is poor Mrs.
Fox?" Then the cat answered,
She sits all alone in her chamber upstairs,
And bewails her misfortune with floods of tears:
She weeps till her beautiful eyes are red;
For, alas alas! Mr. Fox is dead."
Go to her," said the other, and say that there is a young
fox come, who wishes to marry her."
Then up went the cat-trippety trap,
And knocked at the door-tippety tap;
Is good Mrs. Fox within?" said she.
Alas! my dear, what want you with me?"
There waits a suitor below at the gate."
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The Fox pretends he is dead
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Grimm's Fairy Tales
Then said Mrs. Fox,
How looks he, my dear! is he tall and straight?
Has he nine good tails? There must be nine,
Or he never shall be a suitor of mine."
"Ah!" said the cat, "he has but one." "Then I will
never have him," answered Mrs. Fox.
So the cat went down, and sent this suitor about his
business. Soon after, someone else knocked at the door; it
was another fox that had two tails, but he was not better
welcomed than the first. After this came several others, till
at last one came that had really nine tails just like the old
fox.
When the widow heard this, she jumped up and said,
"Now, Pussy, my dear, open windows and doors,
And bid all our friends at our wedding to meet;
And as for that nasty old master of ours,
Throw him out of the window, Puss, into the street."
But when the wedding-feast was all ready, up sprang the
old gentleman on a sudden, and taking a club drove the
whole company, together with Mrs. Fox, out of doors.
After some time, however, the old fox really died; and
soon afterwards a wolf came to pay his respects, and knocked
at the door.
Wolf Good-day, Mrs. Cat, with your whiskers so trim;
How comes it you're sitting alone so prim?
What's that you are cooking so nicely, I pray?
Cat. Oh, that's bread-and-milk for my dinner to-day,
Will your worship be pleased to stay and dine,
Or shall I fetch you a glass of wine?
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Mrs. Fox
"No, I thank you: Mrs. Fox is not at home, I suppose?"
Cat. She sits all alone,
Her griefs to bemoan;
For, alas! alas! Mr. Fox is gone.
Wolf Ah I dear Mrs. Puss! that's a loss indeed;
D 'ye think she'd take me for a husband instead?
Cat. Indeed, Mr. Wolf, I don't know but she may,
If you'll sit down a moment, I'11 step up and see.
So she gave him a chair, and shaking her ears,
She very obligingly tripped it upstairs.
She knocked at the door with the rings on her toes,
And said, "Mrs. Fox, you're within, I suppose?"
Oh yes," said the widow, pray come in, my dear,
And tell me whose voice in the kitchen I hear."
It's a wolf," said the cat, "with a nice smooth skin,
Who was passing this way, and just stepped in
To see (as old Mr. Fox is dead)
If you like to take him for a husband instead."
"But," said Mrs. Fox, "has he red feet and a sharp snout?"
"No," said the cat. "Then he won't do for me." Soon after
the wolf was sent about his business, there came a dog, then
a goat, and after that a bear, a lion, and all the beasts, one
after another. But they all wanted something that old Mr.
Fox had, and the cat was ordered to send them all away.
At last came a young fox, and Mrs. Fox said, "Has he four
red feet and a sharp snout?" "Yes," said the cat.
"Then, Puss, make the parlour look clean and neat,
And throw the old gentleman into the street;
A stupid old rascal! I'm glad that he's dead,
Now I've got such a charming young fox instead."
So the wedding was held, and the merry bells rung,
And the friends and relations they danced and they sung,
And feasted and drank, I can't tell how long."
The Salad
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The Salad
As a merry young huntsman was once going briskly along
through a wood, there came up a little old woman, and said
to him, Good-day, good-day! you seem merry enough, but I
am hungry and thirsty; do pray give me something to eat."
The huntsman took pity on her, and put his hand in his pocket
and gave her what he had. Then he wanted to go his way;
but she took hold of him, and said, "Listen, my friend, to
what I am going to tell you; I will reward you for your kind-
ness. Go your way, and after a little time you will come to a
tree where you will see nine birds sitting on a cloak. Shoot
into the midst of them, and one will fall down dead: the cloak
will fall too; take it, it is a wishing-cloak, and when you wear
it you will find yourself at any place where you may wish to
be. Cut open the dead bird, take out its heart and keep it,
and you will find a piece of gold under your pillow every
morning when you rise. It is the bird's heart that will bring
you this good luck."
The huntsman thanked her and thought to himself, If all
this does happen, it will be a fine thing for me." When he
had gone a hundred steps or so, he heard a screaming and
chirping in the branches over him, and looked up and saw
a flock of birds pulling a cloak with their bills and feet;
screaming, fighting, and tugging at each other as if each
wished to have it himself. "Well," said the huntsman, this
is wonderful; this happens just as the old woman said;" then
he shot into the midst of them so that their feathers flew all
about. Off went the flock chattering away; but one fell down
dead, and the cloak with it. Then the huntsman did as the
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The Salad
old woman told him, cut open the bird, took out the heart,
and carried the cloak home with him.
The next morning when he awoke he lifted up his pillow,
and there lay the piece of gold glittering underneath; the
same happened next day, and indeed every day when he
arose. He heaped up a great deal of gold, and at last thought
to himself, "Of what use is this gold to me whilst I am at
home? I will go out into the world and look about me."
Then he took leave of his friends, and hung his bag and
bow about his neck, and went his way. It so happened that
his road one day led through a thick wood, at the end of
which was a large castle in a green meadow, and at one of
the windows stood an old woman with a very beautiful young
lady by her side looking about them. Now the old woman
was a fairy, and said to the young lady, "There is a young
man coming out of the wood who carries a wonderful prize;
we must get it away from him, my dear child, for it is more
fit for us than for him. He has a bird's heart that brings a
piece of gold under his pillow every morning." Meantime the
huntsman came nearer and looked at the lady, and said to
himself, I have been travelling so long that I should like to
go into this castle and rest myself, for I have money enough
to pay for anything I want;" but the real reason was, that he
wanted to see more of the beautiful lady. Then he went into
the house, and was welcomed kindly; and it was not long
before he was so much in love that he thought of nothing else
but looking at the lady's eyes, and doing everything that she
wished. Then the old woman said, "Now is the time for
getting the bird's heart." So the lady stole it away, and he
never found any more gold under his pillow, for it lay now
under the young lady's, and the old woman took it away
every morning; but he was so much in love that he never
missed his prize.
"Well," said the old fairy, "we have got the bird's heart,
but not the wishing-cloak yet, and that we must also get,"
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" Let us leave him that," said the young lady; he has already
lost his wealth." Then the fairy was very angry, and said,
" Such a cloak is a very rare and wonderful thing, and I must
and will have it." So the young lady did as the old woman
told her, and sat herself at the window, and looked about the
country and seemed very sorrowful; then the huntsman said,
" What makes you so sad?" Alas! dear sir," said she, "yon-
der lies the granite rock where all the costly diamonds grow,
and I want so much to go there, that whenever I think of it I
cannot help being sorrowful, for who can reach it? only the
birds and the flies-man cannot." "If that's all your grief," said
the huntsman, I'll take you there with all my heart;" so he
drew her under his cloak, and the moment he wished to be
on the granite mountain they were both there. The diamonds
glittered so on all sides that they were delighted with the sight
and picked up the finest. But tlhe old fairy made a deep sleep
come upon him, and he said to the young lady, "Let us sit
down and rest ourselves a little; I am so tired that I cannot
stand any longer." So they sat down, and he laid his head
in her lap and fell asleep; and whilst he was sleeping she
took the cloak from his shoulders, hung it on her own, picked
up the diamonds, and wished herself home again.
When he awoke and found that his lady had tricked him,
and left him alone on the wild rock, he said, "Alas! what
roguery there is in the world!" and there he sat in great grief
and fear, not knowing what to do. Now this rock belonged
to fierce giants who lived upon it; and as he saw three of
them striding about, he thought to himself, I can only save
myself by feigning to be asleep;" so he laid himself down as
if he were in a sound sleep. When the giants came up to
him, the first pushed him with his foot, and said, What worm
is this that lies here curled up?" "Tread upon him and kill
him," said the second. It's not worth the trouble," said the
third; let him live, he'll go climbing higher up the mountain,
and some cloud will pcone rolling and carry him away," And
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The Salad
they passed on. But the huntsman had heard all they said;
and as soon as they were gone, he climbed to the top of the
mountain, and when he had sat there a short time a cloud
came rolling around him, and caught him in a whirlwind and
bore him along for some time, till it settled in a garden, and
he fell quite gently to the ground amongst the greens and
cabbages.
Then he looked around him, and said, "I wish I had
something to eat, if not I shall be worse off than before; for
here I see neither apples nor pears, nor any kind of fruit,
nothing but vegetables." At last he thought to himself, "I
can eat salad, it will refresh and strengthen me." So he picked
out a fine head and ate of it; but scarcely had he swallowed
two bites when he felt himself quite changed, and saw with
horror that he was turned into an ass. However, he still felt
very hungry, and the salad tasted very nice; so he ate on till
he came to another kind of salad, and scarcely had he tasted
it when he felt another change come over him, and soon saw
that he was lucky enough to have found his old shape again.
Then he laid himself down and slept off a little of his
weariness; and when he awoke the next morning he broke
off a head both of the good and the bad salad, and thought
to himself, "This will help me to my fortune again, and
enable me to pay off some folk for their treachery." So he
went away to look for the castle of his old friends; and
after wandering about a few days he luckily found it. Then
he stained his face all over brown, so that even his mother
would not have known him, and went into the castle and
asked for a lodging; "I am so tired," said he, "that I can
go no farther." "Countryman," said the fairy, "who are you?
and what is your business?" I am," said he, "a messenger
sent by the king to find the finest salad that grows under the
sun. I have been lucky enough to find it, and have brought
it with me; but the heat of the sun scorches so that it begins
to wither, and I don't know that I can carry it farther."
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He knocked at the window"
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The Salad
When the fairy and the young lady heard of this beautiful
salad, they longed to taste it, and said, "Dear countryman,
let us just taste it." "To be sure," answered he; "I have two
heads of it with me, and will give you one;" so he opened his
bag and gave them the bad. Then the fairy herself took it
into the kitchen to be dressed; and when it was ready she
could not wait till it was carried up, but took a few leaves
immediately and put them in her mouth, and scarcely were
they swallowed when she lost her own form and ran braying
down into the court in the form of an ass. Now the servant-
maid came into the kitchen, and seeing the salad ready was
going to carry it up; but in the way she too felt a wish to
taste it as the old woman had done, and ate some leaves; so
she also was turned into an ass and ran after the other, letting
the dish with the salad fall on the ground. The messenger
sat all this time with the beautiful young lady, and as nobody
came with the salad and she longed to taste it, she said, "I
don't know where the salad can be." Then he thought some-
thing must have happened, and said, "I will go into the
kitchen and see." And as he went he saw two asses in the
court running about, and the salad lying on the ground. "All
right!" said he; "those two have had their share." Then he
took up the rest of the leaves, laid them on the dish and
brought them to the young lady, saying, "I bring you the
dish myself that you may not wait any longer." So she ate
of it, and like the others ran off into the court, braying away.
Then the huntsman washed his face and went into the
court that they might know him. "Now you shall be paid
for your roguery," said he; and tied them all three to a rope
and took them along with him. At last he came to a mill
and knocked at the window. "What's the matter?" said the
miller. "I have three tiresome beasts here," said the other;
"if you will take them, give them food and room, and treat
them as I tell you, I will pay you whatever you ask." "With
all my heart," said the miller; "but how shall I treat them?"
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Then the huntsman said, Give the old one stripes three times
a day and hay once; give the next" (who was the servant-
maid) stripes once a day and hay three times; and give the
youngest" (who was the beautiful lady) "hay three times a
day and no stripes:" for he could not find it in his heart to
have her beaten. After this he went back to the castle, where
he found everything he wanted.
Some days after, the miller came to him and told him
that the old ass was dead; "The other two," said he, "are
alive and eat, but are so sorrowful that they cannot last long."
Then the huntsman pitied them, and told the miller to drive
them back to him, and when they came, he gave them some
of the good salad to eat. And the beautiful young lady fell
upon her knees before him, and said, "Oh, dearest huntsman!
forgive me all the ill I have done you; my mother forced me
to it. It was against my will, for I always loved you very
much. Your wishing-cloak hangs up in the closet, and as for
the bird's heart, I will give it you too." But he said, Keep
it, it will be just the same thing, for I mean to make you my
wife." So they were married, and lived together very happily
till they died.
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The Ass and the Dog take pity on the Cat
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The Ass and the Dog take pity on the Cat
The Travelling Musicians
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The Travelling Musicians
AN honest farmer once had an ass that had been a faithful
servant to him a great many years, but was now growing old
and every day more and more unfit for work. His master,
therefore, was tired of keeping him, and began to think of
putting an end to him; but the ass, who saw that some mis-
chief was in the wind, took himself slyly off, and began his
journey towards Bremen, "For there," thought he, I may
chance to be chosen town-musician."
After he had travelled a little way, he spied a dog lying
by the roadside and panting as if he were very tired. "What
makes you pant so, my friend?" said the ass. "Alas!" said
the dog, "my master was going to knock me on the head,
because I am old and weak, and can no longer make myself
useful to him in hunting; so I ran away. But what can I do
to earn my livelihood?" "Hark ye!" said the ass, "I am
going to Bremen to turn musician: suppose you go with me,
and try what you can do in the same way?" The dog said he
was willing, and they jogged on together.
They had not gone far before they saw a cat sitting in the
middle of the road and making a most rueful face. "Pray,
my good lady," said the ass, "what's the matter with you?
You look quite out of spirits!" Ah me!" said the cat, "how
can one be in good spirits when one's life is in danger? Be-
cause I am beginning to grow old, and had rather lie at my
ease by the fire than run about the house after the mice, my
mistress laid hold of me, and was going to drown me; and
though I have been lucky enough to get away from her, I
do not know what I am to live upon." "Oh!" said the ass,
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Grimm's Fairy Tales
by all means come with us to Bremen;
you are a good night singer, and may
make your fortune as one of the waits."
jA' The cat was pleased with the thought,
and joined the party.
Soon afterwards, as they were pass-
ing by a farmyard, they saw a cock
perched upon a gate, and screaming out
with all his might and main. Bravo!"
said the ass; upon my word you make
a famous noise; pray what is all this
about?" "Why," said the cock, "I was
just now saying that we should have
/ fine weather for our washing-day, and
yet my mistress and the cook don't
thank me for my pains, but threaten
I to cut off my head to-morrow, and
make broth of me for the guests that
are coming on Sunday!" "Heaven
forbid!" said the ass; "come with us,
Master Chanticleer; it will be better,
at any rate, than staying here to have
your head cut off! Besides, who knows?
If we take care to sing in tune, we may
get up a concert of our own: so come
"
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The Travelling Musicians
along with us." "With all my heart," said the cock. So
they all four went on merrily together.
They could not reach the town, however, the first day; so
when night came on, they went into a wood to sleep. The
ass and the dog laid themselves down under a great tree, and
the cat climbed up into the branches, while the cock, thinking
that the higher he sat the safer he would be, flew up to the
very top of the tree, and then, according to his custom, before
he went to sleep, looked out on all sides of him to see that
everything was well. In doing this, he saw afar off some-
thing bright and shining; and calling to his companions said,
"There must be a house no great way off, for I see a light."
"If that be the case," said the ass, "we had better change
our quarters, for our lodging is not the best in the world!"
"Besides," added the dog, "I should not be the worse for
a bone or two, or a bit of meat." So they walked off together
towards the spot where Chanticleer had seen the light; and
as they drew near, it became larger and brighter, till they at
last came close to the house. Now in this house a gang
of robbers lived.
The ass, being the tallest of the company, marched up
to the window and peeped in. "Well, Donkey," said Chan-
ticleer, "what do you see?" "What do I see?" replied the
ass. "Why, I see a table spread with all kinds of good
things, and robbers sitting round it making merry." "That
would be a noble lodging for us," said the cock. "Yes," said
the ass, if we could only get in."
So they consulted together how they should contrive to
get the robbers out; and at last they hit upon a plan. The
ass placed himself upright on his hind-legs, with his fore-
feet resting against the window; the dog got upon his back;
the cat scrambled up to the dog's shoulders; and the cock
flew up and sat upon the cat's head. When all was ready,
a signal was given, and they began their music. The ass
brayed, the dog barked, the cat mewed, and the cock screamed;
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and then they all broke through the window at once, and
came tumbling into the room, amongst the broken glass, with
a terrible clatter! The robbers, who had been not a little
startled by the opening concert, had now no doubt that some
frightful hobgoblin had broken in upon them, and scampered
away as fast as they could.
The coast once clear, our travellers soon sat down, and
despatched what the robbers had left, with as much eagerness
as if they had not expected to eat again for a month. As
soon as they had satisfied themselves, they put out the lights,
and each once more sought out a resting-place to his own
liking. The donkey laid himself down upon a heap of straw
in the yard; the dog stretched himself upon a mat behind the
door; the cat rolled herself up on the hearth before the warm
ashes; and the cock perched upon a beam on the top of the
house; and, as they were all rather tired with their journey,
they soon fell asleep.
But about midnight, when the robbers saw from afar that
the lights were out and that all seemed quiet, they began to
think that they had been in too great a hurry to run away;
and one of them, who was bolder than the rest, went to see
what was going on. Finding everything still, he marched
into the kitchen, and groped about till he found a match in
order to light a candle; and then, espying the glittering fiery
eyes of the cat, he mistook them for live coals, and held the
match to them to light it. But the cat, not understanding
this joke, sprang at his face, and spat, and scratched at him.
This frightened him dreadfully, and away he ran to the back-
door; but there the dog jumped up and bit him on the leg;
and as he was crossing over the yard the ass kicked him; and
the cock, who had been awakened by the noise, crowed with
all his might. At this the robber ran back as fast as he could
to his comrades, and told the captain "how a horrid witch
had got into the house, and had spit at him and scratched
his face with her long bony fingers; how a man with a knife
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"They began their music"
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Grimm's Fairy Tales
in his hand had hidden himself behind the door, and stabbed
him in the leg; how a black monster stood in the yard. and
struck him with a club; and how the evil one sat upon the
top of the house and cried out, 'Throw the rascal up here!'"
After this the robbers never dared to go back to the house;
but the musicians were so well pleased with their quarters,
that they took up their abode there; and there they are,
I dare say, at this very day.
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The Musicians frighten the Robber
The Water of Life
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The Water of Life
LONG before you and I were born there reigned, in a country
a great way off, a king who had three sons. This king once
fell very ill, so ill that nobody thought he could live. His
sons were very much grieved at their father's sickness; and as
they walked weeping in the garden of the palace, an old man
met them and asked what ailed them. They told him their
father was so ill that they were afraid nothing could save him.
"I know what would," said the old man; "it is the Water
of Life. If he could have a draught of it he would be well
again, but it is very hard to get." Then the eldest son said,
"I will soon find it," and went to the sick king, and begged
that he might go in search of the Water of Life, as it was the
only thing that could save him. No," said the king; I had
rather die than place you in such great danger as you must
meet with in your journey." But he begged so hard that the
king let him go; and the prince thought to himself, "If I
bring my father this water, I shall be his dearest son, and he
will make me heir to his kingdom."
Then he set out, and when he had gone on his way some
time he came to a deep valley overhung with rocks and
woods; and as he looked around there stood above him on
one of the rocks a little dwarf, who called out to him and
said, "Prince, whither do you haste so fast?" "What is that
to you, little ugly one?" said the prince sneeringly, and rode on
his way. But the little dwarf fell into a great rage at his
behaviour, and laid a spell of ill luck upon him, so that, as he
rode on, the mountain pass seemed to become narrower and
narrower, and at last the way was so straitened that he could
not go a step forward, and when he thought to have turned
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his horse round and gone back the way he came, the passage
he found had closed behind also, and shut him quite up;
he next tried to get off his horse and make his way on foot,
but this he was unable to do, and so there he was forced
to abide spell-bound.
Meantime the king his father was lingering on in daily
hope of his return, till at last the second son said, "Father,
I will go in search of this Water;" for he thought to himself,
"My brother is surely dead, and the kingdom will fall to
me if I have good luck in my journey." The king was at
first very unwilling to let him go, but at last yielded to his
wish. So he set out and followed the same road which his
brother had taken, and met the same dwarf, who stopped him
at the same spot, and said as before, Prince, whither do you
haste so fast?" "Mind your own affairs, busybody!" answered
the prince scornfully, and rode on. But the dwarf put the
same enchantment upon him, and when he came like the
other to the narrow pass in the mountains he could neither
move forward nor backward. Thus it is with proud, silly
people, who think themselves too wise to take advice.
When the second prince had thus stayed away a long
while, the youngest said he would go and search for the
Water of Life, and trusted he should soon be able to make
his father well again. The dwarf met him too at the same
spot, and said, "Prince, whither do you haste so fast?" and
the prince said, "I go in search of the Water of Life, because
my father is ill and like to die:-can you help me?" "Do you
know where it is to be found?" asked the dwarf. "No," said
the prince. "Then as you have spoken to me kindly and
sought for advice, I will tell you how and where to go. The
Water you seek springs from a well in an enchanted castle,
and that you may be able to go in safety I will give you an
iron wand and two little loaves of bread; strike the iron door
of the castle three times with the wand, and it will open: two
hungry lions will be lying down inside gaping for their prey;
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The Water of Life
but if you throw them the bread they will let you pass; then
hasten on to the well and take some of the Water of Life
before the clock strikes twelve, for if you tarry longer the
door will shut upon you for ever."
Then the prince thanked the dwarf for his friendly aid,
and took the wand and the bread and went travelling on and
on over sea and land till he came to his journey's end, and
found everything to be as the dwarf had told him. The door
flew open at the third stroke of the wand, and when the lions
were quieted he went on through the castle, and came at
length to a beautiful hall; around it he saw several knights
sitting in a trance; then he pulled off their rings and put
them on his own fingers. In another room he saw on a
table a sword and a loaf of bread, which he also took.
Farther on he came to a room where a beautiful young
lady sat upon a couch, who welcomed him joyfully, and
said, if he would set her free from the spell that bound her,
the kingdom should be his if he would come back in a year
and marry her; then she told him that the well that held
the Water of Life was in the palace gardens, and bade him
make haste and draw what he wanted before the clock struck
twelve. Then he went on, and as he walked through beau-
tiful gardens he came to a delightful shady spot in which
stood a couch; and he thought to himself, as he felt tired,
that he would rest himself for awhile and gaze on the lovely
scenes around him. So he laid himself down, and sleep fell
upon him unawares, and he did not wake up till the clock
was striking a quarter to twelve; then he sprang from the
couch dreadfully frightened, ran to the well, filled a cup that
was standing by him full of Water, and hastened to get away
in time. Just as he was going out of the iron door it struck
twelve, and the door fell so quickly upon him that it tore
away a piece of his heel.
When he found himself safe he was overjoyed to think
that he had got the Water of Life; and as he was going on
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his way homewards, he passed by the little dwarf, who when
he saw the sword and the loaf said, "You have made a noble
prize; with the sword you can at a blow slay whole armies,
and the bread will never fail." Then the prince thought
to himself, "I cannot go home to my father without my
brothers;" so he said, "Dear dwarf, cannot you tell me
where my two brothers are, who set out in search of the
Water of Life before me and never came back?" "I have
shut them up by a charm between two mountains," said the
dwarf, because they were proud and ill-behaved, and scorned
to ask advice." The prince begged so hard for his brothers
that the dwarf at last set them free, though unwilling, saying,
"Beware of them, for they have bad hearts."
Their brother, however, was greatly rejoiced to see them,
and told them all that had happened to him, how he had
found the Water of Life, and had taken a cup full of it, and
how he had set a beautiful princess free from a spell that
bound her; and how she had engaged to wait a whole year,
and then to marry him and give him the kingdom. Then
they all three rode on together, and on their way home came
to a country that was laid waste by war and a dreadful
famine, so that it was feared all must die for want. But
the prince gave the king of the land the bread, and all his
kingdom ate of it. And he slew the enemy's army with the
wonderful sword, and left the kingdom in peace and plenty.
In the same manner he befriended two other countries that
they passed through on their way.
When they came to the sea, they got into a ship, and dur-
ing their voyage the two elder brothers said to themselves,
" Our brother has got the Water which we could not find, there-
fore our father will forsake us and give him the kingdom which
is our right;" so they were full of envy and revenge, and agreed
together how they could ruin him. They waited till he was
fast asleep, and then poured the Water of Life out of the
cup and took it for themselves, giving him bitter sea-water
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instead. And when they came to their journey's end, the
youngest brought his cup to the sick king, that he might
drink and be healed. Scarcely, however, had he tasted the
bitter sea-water than he became worse even than he was
before, and then both the elder sons came in and blamed
the youngest for what he had done, and said that he wanted
to poison their father, but that they had found the Water of
Life and had brought it with them. He no sooner began to
drink of what they brought him, than he felt his sickness
leave him, and was as strong and well as in his young days;
then they went to their brother and laughed at him, and said,
"Well, brother, you found the Water of Life, did you? you
have had the trouble and we shall have the reward; pray,
with all your cleverness why did not you manage to keep
your eyes open? Next year one of us will take away your
beautiful princess, if you do not take care; you had better say
nothing about this to our father, for he does not believe a
word you say, and if you tell tales, you shall lose your life into
the bargain, but be quiet and we will let you off."
The old king was still very angry with his youngest son,
and thought that he really meant to have taken away his
life; so he called his court together and asked what should be
done, and it was settled that he should be put to death. The
prince knew nothing of what was going on, till one day when
the king's chief huntsman went a-hunting with him, and they
were alone in the wood together, the huntsman looked so
sorrowful that the prince said, My friend, what is the matter
with you?" I cannot and dare not tell you," said he. But
the prince begged hard and said, Only say what it is, and
do not think I shall be angry, for I will forgive you." "Alas!"
said the huntsman, the king has ordered me to shoot you."
The prince started at this, and said, Let me live, and I will
change dresses with you; you shall take my royal coat to
show to my father, and do you give me your shabby one."
"With all my heart," said the huntsman; I am sure I shall
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The Water of Life
be glad to save you, for I could not have shot you." Then
he took the prince's coat, and gave him the shabby one, and
went away through the wood.
Some time after, three grand embassies came to the old
king's court, with rich gifts of gold and precious stones for
his youngest son, which were sent from the three kings to
whom he had lent his sword and loaf of bread to rid them
of their enemy and feed their people. This touched the old
king's heart, and he thought his son might still be guiltless,
and said to his court, "Oh! that my son were still alive! how
it grieves me that I had him killed!" "He still lives," said
the huntsman; "and I rejoice that I had pity on him, and
saved him, for when the time came, I could not shoot him,
but let him go in peace and brought home his royal coat."
At this the king was overwhelmed with joy, and made it
known throughout all his kingdom that, if his son would
come back to his court, he would forgive him.
Meanwhile the princess was eagerly waiting the return
of her deliverer, and had a road made leading up to her
palace all of shining gold; and told her courtiers that who-
ever came on horseback and rode straight up to the gate
upon it, was her true lover, and that they must let him in;
but whoever rode on one side of it, they must be sure was
not the right one, and must send him away at once.
The time soon came, when the eldest thought he would
make haste to go to the princess, and say that he was the
one who had set her free, and that he should have her for
his wife, and the kingdom with her. As he came before the
palace and saw the golden road, he stopped to look at it,
and thought to himself, It is a pity to ride upon this beau-
tiful road;" so he turned aside and rode on the right of it.
But when he came to the gate the guards said to him, he was
not what he said he was, and must go about his business.
The second prince set out soon afterwards on the same
errand; and when he came to the golden road, and his
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horse had set one foot upon it, he stopped to look at it,
and thought it very beautiful, and said to himself, "What a
pity it is that anything should tread here!" then he too
turned aside and rode on the left of it. But when he came
to the gate the guards said he was not the true prince, and
that he too must go away.
Now when the full year was come, the third brother left
the wood, where he had lain for fear of his father's anger,
and set out in search of his betrothed bride. So he jour-
neyed on, thinking of her all the way, and rode so quickly
that he did not even see the golden road, but went with his
horse straight over it; and as he came to the gate, it flew
open, and the princess welcomed him with joy, and said he
was her deliverer and should now be her husband and lord
of the kingdom, and the marriage was soon kept with great
feasting. When it was over, the princess told him she had
heard of his father having forgiven him, and of his wish to
have him home again: so he went to visit him, and told him
everything, how his brothers had cheated and robbed him,
and yet that he had borne all these wrongs for the love of
his father. Then the old king was very angry, and wanted
to punish his wicked sons; but they made their escape, and
got into a ship and sailed away over the wide sea, and were
never heard of any more.
The Nose
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The Nose
DID you ever hear the story of the three poor soldiers, who,
after having fought hard in the wars, set out on their road
home, begging their way as they went?
They had journeyed on a long way, sick at heart with
their bad luck at thus being turned loose on the world in
their old days, when one evening they reached a deep gloomy
wood through which they must pass; night came fast upon
them, and they found that they must, however unwillingly,
sleep in the wood; so to make all as safe as they could,
it was agreed that two should lie down and sleep, while a
third sat up and watched lest wild beasts should break in and
tear them to pieces; when he was tired he was to wake one of
the others and sleep in his turn, and so on with the third, so
as to share the work fairly among them.
The two who were to rest first soon lay down and fell fast
asleep, and the other made himself a good fire under the trees
and sat down by the side to keep watch. He had not sat
long before all on a sudden up came a little man in a red
jacket. "Who's there?" said he. "A friend," said the
soldier. "What sort of a friend?" "An old broken soldier,"
said the other, with his two comrades, who have nothing left
to live on; come, sit down and warm yourself." "Well, my
worthy fellow," said the little man, I will do what I can for
you; take this and show it to your comrades in the morning."
So he took out an old cloak and gave it to the soldier, telling
him that whenever he put it over his'shoulders anything that
he wished for would be fulfilled; then the little man made
him a bow and walked away.
The second soldier's turn to watch soon came, and the
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first laid himself down to sleep; but the second man had not
sat by himself long before up came the little man in the red
jacket again. The soldier treated him in a friendly way as
his comrade had done, and the little man gave him a purse,
which he told him was always full of gold, let him draw as
much as he would.
Then the third soldier's turn to watch came, and he also
had the little man for his guest, who gave him a wonderful
horn that drew crowds around it whenever it was played; and
made everyone forget his business to come and dance to its
beautiful music.
In the morning each told his story and showed his
treasure; and as they all liked each other very much and
were old friends, they agreed to travel together to see the
world, and for awhile only to make use of the wonderful
purse. And thus they spent their time very joyously, till at
last they began to be tired of this roving life, and thought
they should like to have a home of their own. So the first
soldier put his cloak on, and wished for a fine castle. In a
moment it stood before their eyes; fine gardens and green
lawns spread round it, and flocks of sheep and goats and
herds of oxen were grazing about, and out of the gate came
a fine coach with three dapple-gray horses to meet them and
bring them home.
All this was very well for a time; but it would not do
to stay at home always, so they ogt together all their rich
clothes and horses and servants, and ordered their coach
with three horses, and set out on a journey to see a neigh-
bouring king. Now this king had an only daughter, and
as he took the three soldiers for kings' sons, he gave them a
kind welcome. One day as the second soldier was walking
with the princess, she saw him with the wonderful purse in
his hand; and having asked him what it was, he was foolish
enough to tell her;-though indeed it did not much signify,
for she was a witch, and knew all the wonderful things that
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the three soldiers brought. Now this princess was very
cunning and artful; so she set to work and made a purse
so like the soldier's that it was impossible to know one from
the other, and then asked him to come and see her, and made
him drink some wine that she had got ready for him, till he
fell fast asleep. Then she felt in his pocket, and took away
the wonderful purse and left the one she had made in its
place.
The next morning the soldiers set out home, and soon
after they reached their castle, happening to want some
money, they went to their purse for it, and found something
indeed in it, but to their great sorrow when they had emptied
it, none came in the place of what they took. Then the cheat
was soon found out; for the second soldier knew where he
had been, and how he had told the story to the princess, and
he guessed that she had betrayed him. "Alas!" cried he,
"poor wretches that we are, what shall we do?" "Oh!" said
the first soldier, "let no gray hairs grow from this mishap;
I will soon get the purse back." So he threw his cloak across
his shoulders and wished himself in the princess's chamber.
There he found her sitting alone, telling her gold that fell
around her in a shower from the purse. But the soldier stood
looking at her too long, for the moment she saw him she
started up and cried out with all her force, Thieves! Thieves!"
so that the whole court came running in and tried to seize
him. The poor soldier now began to be dreadfully frightened
in his turn, and thought it was high time to make the best
of his way off; so without thinking of the ready way of
travelling that his cloak gave him, he ran to the window,
opened it, and jumped out; and unluckily in his haste his
cloak caught and was left hanging, to the great joy of the
princess, who knew its worth.
The poor soldier made the best of his way home to his
comrades, on foot and in a very downcast mood; but the
third soldier told him to keep up his heart, and took his horn
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and blew a merry tune. At the first blast a countless troop
of foot and horse came rushing to their aid, and they set out
to make war against their enemy. Then the king's palace
was besieged, and he was told that he must give up the purse
and cloak, or that not one stone would be left upon another.
And the king went into his daughter's chamber and talked
with her; but she said, Let me try first if I cannot beat them
some other way." So she thought of a cunning scheme to
overreach them, and dressed herself out as a poor girl with a
basket on her arm; and set out by night with her maid, and
went into the enemy's camp as if she wanted to sell trinkets.
In the morning she began to ramble about, singing ballads
so beautifully, that all the tents were left empty, and the
soldiers ran round in crowds and thought of nothing but
hearing her sing. Amongst the rest came the soldier to
whom the horn belonged, and as soon as she saw him she
winked to her maid, who slipped slyly through the crowd and
went into his tent where the horn hung, and stole it away.
This done, they both got safely back to the palace; the be-
sieging army went away, the three wonderful gifts were all
left in the hands of the princess, and the three soldiers were
as penniless and forlorn as when the little man with the red
jacket found them in the wood.
Poor fellows! they began to think what was now to be
done. "Comrades," at last said the second soldier, who had
had the purse, "we had better part; we cannot live together,
let each seek his bread as well as he can." So he turned to
the right, and the other two to the left; for they said they
would rather travel together. Then on he strayed till he
came to a wood (now this was the same wood where they had
met with so much good luck before); and he walked on a long
time till evening began to fall, when he sat down tired beneath
a tree, and soon fell asleep.
Morning dawned, and he was greatly delighted, on opening
his eyes, to see that the tree was laden with the most beautiful
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The Nose
apples. He was very hungry, so he soon plucked and ate
first one, then a second, then a third apple. Then a strange
feeling came over his nose: when he put the apple to his
mouth something was in the way; he felt it; it was his nose,
that grew and grew till it hung down to his breast. It did
not stop there, still it grew and grew; Heavens!" thought he,
"when will it have done growing?" And well might he ask,
for by this time it reached the ground as he sat on the grass,
and thus it kept creeping on till he could not bear its weight,
or raise himself up: and it seemed as if it would never end,
for already it stretched its enormous length all through the
wood.
Meantime his comrades were journeying on, till on a
sudden one of them stumbled against something. "What
can that be?" said the other. They looked, but could think
of nothing that it was like but a nose. "We will follow
it and Fnd its owner," said they; so they traced it up till
at last they found their poor comrade lying stretched along
under the apple-tree. What was to be done? They tried
to carry him, but in vain. They caught an ass that was
passing by, and raised him upon its back; but it was soon
tired of carrying such a load. So they sat down in despair,
when up came the little man in the red jacket. "Why, how
now, friend?" said he, laughing; "well, I must find a cure for
you, I see." So he told them to gather a pear from a tree
that grew close by, and the nose would come right again. No
time was lost, and the nose was soon brought to its proper
size, to the poor soldier's joy.
"I will do something more for you yet," said the little
man; "take some of those pears and apples with you; who-
ever eats one of the apples will have his nose grow like yours
just now; but if you give him a pear, all will come right again.
Go to the princess and get her to eat some of your apples;
her nose will grow twenty times as long as yours did; then
look sharp, and you will get what you want of her."
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"Her nose grew and grew"
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Then they thanked their old friend very heartily for all
his kindness, and it was agreed that the poor soldier who had
already tried the power of the apple should undertake the
task. So he dressed himself up as a gardener's boy, and went
to the king's palace, and said he had apples to sell, such as
were never seen there before. Everyone that saw them was
delighted and wanted to taste, but he said they were only for
the princess; and she soon sent her maid to buy his stock.
They were so ripe and rosy that she soon began eating, and
had already eaten three when she too began to wonder what
ailed her nose, for it grew and grew, down.to the ground, out
at the window, and over the garden, nobody knows where.
Then the king made known to all his kingdom, that who-
ever would heal her of this dreadful disease should be richly
rewarded. Many tried, but the princess got no relief. And
now the old soldier dressed himself up very sprucely as a
doctor, who said he could cure her; so he chopped up some
of the apple, and to punish her a little more gave her a dose,
saying he would call to-morrow and see her again. The
morrow came, and, of course, instead of being better, the nose
had been growing fast all night, and the poor princess was in
a dreadful fright. So the doctor chopped up a very little of
the pear and gave her, and said he was sure that would do
good, and he would call again the next day. Next day came,
and the nose was, to be sure, a little smaller, but yet it was
bigger than it was when the doctor first began to meddle
with it.
Then he thought to himself, I must frighten this cunning
princess a little more before I shall get what I want of her;"
so he gave her another dose of the apple, and said he would
call on the morrow. The morrow came, and the nose was
ten times as bad as before. "My good lady," said the doctor,
"something works against my medicine, and is too strong for
it; but I know by the force of my art what it is; you have
stolen goods about you, I am sure, and if you do not give
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them back, I can do nothing for you." But the princess
denied very stoutly that she had anything of the kind.
"Very well," said the doctor, "you may do as you please, but
I am sure I am right, and you will die if you do not own it."
Then he went to the king, and told him how the matter stood.
"Daughter," said he, "send back the cloak, the purse, and the
horn, that you stole from the right owners."
Then she ordered her maid to fetch all three, and gave
them to the doctor, and begged him to give them back to the
soldiers; and the moment he had them safe he gave her a
whole pear to eat, and the nose came right. And as for the
doctor, he put on the cloak, wished the king and all his court
a good day, and was soon with his two brothers, who lived
from that time happily at home in their palace, except when
they took airings in their coach with the three dapple-gray
horses.
Cat-skin
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Cat-Skin
THERE was once a king, whose queen had hair of the purest
gold, and was so beautiful that her match was not to be met
with on the whole face of the earth. But this beautiful queen
- fell ill, and when she felt that her end drew near, she called
the king to her and said, "Vow to me that you will never
marry again, unless you meet with a wife who is as beautiful
as I am, and who has golden hair like mine." Then when
the king in his grief had vowed all she asked, she shut her
eyes and died. But the king was not to be comforted, and
for a long time never thought of taking another wife. At
last, however, his counsellors said, This will not do; the king
must marry again, that we may have a queen." So messengers
were sent far and wide, to seek for a bride who was as beauti-
ful as the late queen. But there was no princess in the world
so beautiful; and if there had been, still there was not one
to be found who had such golden hair. So the messengers
came home and had done all their work for nothing.
Now the king had a daughter who was just as beautiful
as her mother, and had the same golden hair. And when
she was grown up, the king looked at her and saw that she
was just like his late queen: then he said to his courtiers,
"May I not marry my daughter? she is the very image of
my dead wife: unless I have her, I shall not find any bride
upon the whole earth, and you say there must be a queen."
When the courtiers heard this, they were shocked, and said,
Heaven forbid that a father should marry his daughter! out
of so great a sin no good can come." And his daughter was
also shocked, but hoped the king would soon give up such
thoughts: so she said to him, Before I marry anyone I must
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have three dresses; one must be of gold like the sun, another
must be of shining silver like the moon, and a third must be
dazzling as the stars: besides this, I want a mantle of a
thousand different kinds of fur put together, to which every
beast in the kingdom must give a part of his skin." And
thus she thought he would think of the matter no more. But
the king made the most skilful workmen in his kingdom
weave the three dresses, one as golden as the sun, another
as silvery as the moon, and a third shining like the stars;
and his hunters were told to hunt out all the beasts in his
kingdom and take the finest fur out of their skins; and so
a mantle of a thousand furs was made.
When all was ready, the king sent them to her; but she
got up in the night when all were asleep, and took three
of her trinkets, a golden ring, a golden necklace, and a golden
brooch; and packed the three dresses of the sun, moon, and
stars up in a nut-shell, and wrapped herself up in the mantle
of all sorts of furs and besmeared her hands and face with
soot. Then she threw herself upon Heaven for help in her
need, and went away out of her father's country and journeyed
on the whole night, till at last she came to a large wood.
As she was very tired, she sat herself down in the hollow of
a tree and soon fell asleep: and there she slept on till it was
mid-day. And it happened, that as the king to whom the
wood belonged was hunting in it, his dogs came to the tree,
and began to sniff about and run round and round, and then
to bark. "Look sharp," said the king to the huntsmen, and
see what sort of game lies there." And the huntsmen went
up to the tree, and when they came back again said, "In
the hollow tree there lies a most wonderful beast, such as we
never saw before; its skin seems of a thousand kinds of fur,
but there it lies, fast asleep." "See," said the king, "if you
can catch it alive, and we will take it with us." So the
huntsmen took it up, and the maiden awoke and was greatly
frightened, and said, "I am a poor child that has neither
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father nor mother left; have pity on me and take me with
you." Then they said, "Yes, Miss Cat-skin, you will do for
the kitchen; you can sweep up the ashes and do things of
that sort." So they put her in the coach and took her home
to the king's palace. Then they showed her a little corner
under the staircase where no light of day ever peeped in,
and said, Cat-skin; you may lie and sleep there." And she
was sent into the kitchen, and made to fetch wood and water,
to blow the fire, pluck the poultry, pick the herbs, sift the
ashes, and do all the dirty work.
Thus Cat-skin lived for a long time very sorrowfully.
"Ah! pretty princess!" thought she, "what will now become
of thee?" But it happened one day that a feast was to be
held in the king's castle; so she said to the cook, "May I
go up a little while and see what is going on ? I will take
care and stand behind the door." And the cook said, "Yes,
you may go, but be back again in half an hour's time to rake
out the ashes." Then she took her little lamp, and went into
her cabin, and took off the fur skin, and washed the soot from
off her face and hands, so that her beauty shone forth like the
sun from behind the clouds. She next opened her nut-shell,
and brought out of it the dress that shone like the sun,
and so 'went to the feast. Everyone made way for her,
for nobody knew her, and they thought she could be no less
than a king's daughter. But the king came up to her and
held out his hand and danced with her, and he thought in his
heart, I never saw anyone half so beautiful."
When the dance was at an end, she curtsied; and when
the king looked round for her, she was gone, no one knew
whither. The guards who stood at the castle gate were called
in; but they had seen no one. The truth was, that she had
run into her little cabin, pulled off her dress, blacked her face
and hands, put on the fur-skin cloak, and was Cat-skin again.
When she went into the kitchen to her work, and began
to rake the ashes, the cook said, "Let that alone till the
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morning, and heat the king's soup; I should like to run up
now and give a peep; but take care you don't let a hair
fall into it, or you will run a chance of never eating
again."
As soon as the cook went away, Cat-skin heated the
king's soup and toasted up a slice of bread as nicely as
ever she could; and when it was ready, she went and looked
in the cabin for her little golden ring, and put it into the dish
in which the soup was. When the dance was over, the king
ordered his soup to be brought in, and it pleased him so well,
that he thought he had never tasted any so good before. At
the bottom he saw a gold ring lying, and as he could not
make out how it had got there, he ordered the cook to be
sent for. The cook was frightened when he heard the order,
and said to Cat-skin, "You must have let a hair fall into
the soup; if it be so, you will have a good beating." Then he
went before the king, and the king asked him who had cooked
the soup. "I did," answered he. But the king said, That is
not true; it was better done than you could do it." Then
he answered, To tell the truth, I did not cook it, but Cat-
skin did." "Then let Cat-skin come up," said the king: and
when she came, he said to her, "Who are you?" "I am
a poor child," said she, "who has lost both father and mother."
"How came you in my palace?" asked he. "I am good
for nothing," said she, "but to be scullion-girl, and to have
boots and shoes thrown at my head." "But how did you get
the ring that was in the soup?" asked the king. But she
would not own that she knew anything about the ring; so
the king sent her away again about her business.
After a time there was another feast, and Cat-skin asked
the cook to let her go up and see it as before. "Yes," said
he, but come back again in half an hour, and cook the king
the soup that he likes so much." Then she ran to her little
cabin, washed herself quickly, and took the dress out which
yvas silvery as the moon, and put it on; and when she went in
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looking like a king's daughter, the king went up to her and
rejoiced at seeing her again, and when the dance began he
danced with her. After the dance was at an end, she
managed to slip out so slyly that the king, did not see
where she was gone; but she sprang into her little cabin
and made herself into Cat-skin again, and went into the
kitchen to cook the soup. Whilst the cook was above, she
got the golden necklace, and dropped it into the soup; then
the soup was brought to the king, who ate it, and it pleased
him as well as before; so he sent for the cook, who was again
forced to tell him that Cat-skin had cooked it. Cat-skin
was brought again before the king; but she still told him
that she was only fit to have the boots and shoes thrown
at her head.
But when the king had ordered a feast to be got ready for
the third time, it happened just the same as before. "You
must be a witch, Cat-skin," said the cook; "for you always
put something into the soup, so that it pleases the king better
than mine." However, he let her go up as before. Then she
put on the dress which sparkled like the stars, and went
into the ball-room in it; and the king danced with her again,
and thought she had never looked so beautiful as she did
then. So whilst he was dancing with her, he put a gold ring
on her finger without her seeing it, and ordered that the
dance should be kept up a long time. When it was at
an end, he would have held her fast by the hand; but
she slipped away and sprang so quickly through the crowd
that he lost sight of her; and she ran as fast as she could
into her little cabin under the stairs. But this time she had
kept away too long, and stayed beyond the half-hour; so
she had not time to take off her fine dress, but threw her
fur mantle over it, and in her haste did not soot herself all
over, but left one finger white.
Then she ran into the kitchen, and cooked the king's
soup; and as soon as the cook was gone she put the golden
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brooch into the dish. When the king got to the bottom,
he ordered Cat-skin to be called once more, and soon saw
the white finger and the ring that he had put on it whilst
they were dancing; so he seized her hand, and kept fast
hold of it, and when she wanted to loose herself and spring
away, the cloak fell off a little on one side, and the starry
dress sparkled underneath it. Then he got hold of the fur
and tore it off, and her golden hair and beautiful form were
seen, and she could no longer hide herself. So she washed the
soot and ashes from off her face, and showed herself to be
the most beautiful princess upon the face of the earth. But
the king said, "You are my beloved bride, and we will never
more be parted from each other." And the wedding-feast
was held, and a merry day it was.
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The Mouse, the Bird, and the Sausage
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The Mouse, the Bird, .and the Sausage
ONCE upon a time a mouse, a bird, and a sausage took it
into their heads to keep house together: and, to be sure, they
managed to live for a long time very comfortably and happily;
and beside that added a great deal to their store, so as to
become very rich. It was the bird's business to fly every day
into the forest and bring wood; the mouse had to carry the
water, to make the fire, and lay the cloth for dinner; but the
sausage was cook to the household.
He who is too well off often begins to be lazy and to long
for something fresh. Now it happened one day that our bird
met with one of his friends, to whom he boasted greatly of
his good plight. But the other bird laughed at him for a
poor fool, who worked hard, whilst the two at home had an
easy job of it; for when the mouse had made her fire and
fetched the water, she went and lay down in her own little
room till she was called to lay the cloth; and the sausage sat
by the pot, and had nothing to do but to see that the food
was well cooked; and when 'it was meal-time, had only to
butter, salt, and get it ready to eat, which it could do in a
minute. The bird flew home, and having laid his burden on
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The Mouse, the Bird, and the Sausage
the ground, they all sat down to table, and after they had
made their meal slept soundly until the next morning. Could
any life be more glorious than this?
The next day the bird, who had been told what to do by
his friend, would not go into the forest, saying, he had waited
on them, and been made a fool of long enough; they should
change about, and take their turns at the work. Although
the mouse and the sausage begged hard that things might
go on as they were, the bird carried the day. So they cast
lots, and the lot fell upon the sausage to fetch wood, while
the mouse was to be cook, and the bird was to bring the
water.
What happened by thus taking people from their proper
work? The sausage set out towards the wood, the little bird
made a fire, the mouse set on the pot, and only waited for
the sausage to come home and bring wood for the next day.
But the sausage kept away so long that they both thought
something must have happened to him, and the bird flew
out a little way to look for him; but not far off he found
a dog on the road, who said he had met with a poor little
sausage, and taking him for fair prey, had laid hold of him
and knocked him down. The bird made a charge against
the dog of open robbery and murder; but words were of no
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use, for the dog said, he found the sausage out of its proper
work, and under false colours; and so he was taken for a spy
and lost his life. The little bird took up the wood very sor-
rowfully, and went home and told what he had seen and
heard. The mouse and he were very much grieved, but
agreed to do their best and keep together.
The little bird undertook to spread the table, and the
mouse got ready the dinner; but when she went to dish it
up, she fell into the pot and was drowned. When the bird
came into the kitchen and wanted the dinner to put upon
the table, no cook was to be seen; so he threw the wood
about here, there, and everywhere, and called and sought on
all sides, but still could not find the cook. Meantime the
embers fell upon the wood and set it on fire; the bird
hastened away to get water, but his bucket fell into the well,
and he after it; and so ends the story of this clever family.
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The Dwarfs dress themselves in the Clothes
The Elves and the Shoemaker
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The Elves and the Shoemaker
THERE was once a shoemaker who worked very hard and
was very honest; but still he could not earn enough to live
upon, and at last all he had in the world was gone, except
just leather enough to make one pair of shoes. Then he cut
them all ready to make up the next day, meaning to get up
early in the morning to work. His conscience was clear and
his heart light amidst all his troubles; so he went peaceably
to bed, left all his cares to heaven, and fell asleep. In the
morning, after he had said his prayers, he set himself down
to his work, when, to his great wonder, there stood the shoes,
all ready made, upon the table. The good man knew not
what to say or think of this strange event. He looked at
the workmanship; there was not one false stitch in the whole
job; and all was so neat and true, that it was a complete
masterpiece.
That same day a customer came in, and the shoes pleased
him so well that he willingly paid a price higher than usual
for them; and the poor shoemaker with the money bought
leather enough to make two pairs more. In the evening he
cut out the work, and went to bed early, that he might get
up and begin betimes next day; but he was saved all the
trouble, for when he got up in the morning the work was
finished ready to his hand. Presently in came buyers, who
paid him handsomely for his goods, so that he bought leather
enough for four pairs more. He cut out the work again
overnight, and found it finished in the morning as before;
and so it went on for some time: what was got ready in
the evening was always done by daybreak, and the good
Iman soon became thriving and prosperous again,
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One evening about Christmas-time, as he and his wife
were sitting over the fire chatting together, he said to her,
"I should like to sit up and watch to-night, that we may see
who it is that comes and does my work for me." The wife
liked the thought; so they left a light burning, and hid them-
selves in the corner of the room behind a curtain that was
hung up there, and watched for what would happen.
As soon as it was midnight, two little naked dwarfs came
into the room; and they at once sat themselves upon the
shoemaker's bench, took up all the work that was cut out,
and began to ply with their little fingers, stitching and rap-
ping and tapping away at such a rate, that the shoemaker
was all amazement, and could not take his eyes off them for
a moment. And on they went till the job was quite finished,
and the shoes stood ready for use upon the table. This was
long before daybreak; and then they bustled away as quick
as lightning.
The next day the wife said to the shoemaker, "These
little people have made us rich, and we ought to be thankful
to them, and do them a good office in return. I am quite
vexed to see them run about as they do; they have nothing
upon their backs to keep off the cold. I'll tell you what, I
will make each of them a shirt, and a coat and waistcoat, and
a pair of pantaloons into the bargain; do you make each of
them a little pair of shoes."
The thought pleased the good shoemaker very much; and
one evening, when all the things were ready, they laid them
on the table instead of the work that they used to cut out,
and then went and hid themselves to watch what the little
elves would do.
About midnight the elves came in, and were going to sit
down to their work as usual; but when they saw the clothes
lying for them, they laughed and were greatly delighted.
Then they dressed themselves in the twinkling of an eye,
and danced and capered and sprang about as merry as could
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be, till at last they danced out at the door and over the green.
The shoemaker saw them no more; but everything went well
with him from that time forward, as long as he lived.
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Tom Thumb
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Tom Thumb
THERE was once a poor woodsman sitting by the fire in his
cottage, and his wife sat by his side spinning.
How lonely it is," said he, for you and me to sit here by
ourselves without any children to play about and amuse us,
while other people seem so happy and merry with their
children!"
"What you say is very true," said the wife, sighing and
turning round her wheel; "how happy should I be if I had
but one child! and if it were ever so small, nay, if it were no
bigger than my thumb, I should be very happy, and love it
dearly."
Now it came to pass that this good woman's wish was
fulfilled just as she desired; for, some time afterwards, she
had a little boy who was quite healthy and strong, but not
much bigger than her thumb. So they said, "Well, we
cannot say we have not got what we wished for, and, little
as he is, we will love him dearly;" and they called him Tom
Thumb.
They gave him plenty of food, yet he never grew bigger,
but remained just the same size as when he was born; still
his eyes were sharp and sparkling, and he soon showed him-
self to be a clever little fellow, who always knew well what he
was about. One day, as the woodsman was getting ready to
go into the wood to cut fuel, he said, I wish I had someone
to bring the cart after me, for I want to make haste."
0 father!" cried Tom, I will take care of that; the cart
shall be in the wood by the time you want it."
Then the woodsman laughed, and said: "How can that be?
you cannot reach up to the horse's bridle."
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Tom Thumb
"Never mind that, father," said Tom: "if my mother will
only harness the horse, I will get into his ear, and tell him
which way to go."
"Well," said the father, "we will try for once."
When the time came, the mother harnessed the horse to
the cart, and put Tom into his ear; and as he sat there, the
little man told the beast how to go, crying out "Go on!" and
"Stop!" as he wanted; so the horse went on just as if the
woodsman had driven it himself into the wood. It happened
that, as the horse was going a little too fast, and Tom was
calling out "Gently! gently!" two strangers came up.
"What an odd thing that is!" said one, "there is a cart
going along, and I hear a carter talking to the horse, but
can see no one."
"That is strange," said the other; "let us follow the cart
and see where it goes."
So they went on into the wood, till at last they came to
the place where the woodsman was. Then Tom Thumb,
seeing his father, cried out, See, father, here I am, with the
cart, all right and safe; now take me down." So his father
took hold of the horse with one hand, and with the other took
his son out of the ear; then he put him down upon a straw,
where he sat as merry as you please. The two strangers
were all this time looking on, and did not know what to
say for wonder. At last one took the other aside and said,
"That little urchin will make our fortune if we can get him,
and carry him about from town to town as a show; we must
buy him." So they went to the woodsman and asked him
what he would take for the little man; "He will be better
off," said they, "with us than with you." "I won't sell him at
all," said the father, my own flesh and blood is dearer to me
than all the silver and gold in the world." But Tom, hearing
of the bargain they wanted to make, crept up his father's coat
to his shoulder, and whispered in his ear, Take the money,
father, and let them have me, I'll soon come back to you."
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So the woodsman at last agreed to sell Tom to the
strangers for a large piece of gold. "Where do you like to
sit?" said one of them. Oh! put me on the rim of your hat,
that will be a nice gallery for me; I can walk about there,
and see the country as we go along." So they did as he
wished; and when Tom had taken leave of his father, they
took him away with them.
They journeyed on till it began to be dusky, and then the
little man said, "Let me get down, I'm tired." So the man
took off his hat and set him down on a clod of earth in
a ploughed field by the side of the road. But Tom ran about
amongst the furrows, and at last slipt into an old mouse-hole.
" Good-night, masters," said he," I'm off! mind and look sharp
after me the next time." They ran directly to the place, and
poked the ends of their stick into the mouse-hole, but all
in vain; Tom only crawled farther and farther in, and at last
it became quite dark, so that they were obliged to go their
way without their prize, as sulky as you please.
When Tom found they were gone, he came out of his
hiding-place. "What dangerous walking it is," said he, "in
this ploughed field! If I were to fall from one of these great
clods, I should certainly break my neck." At last, by good
luck, he found a large empty snail-shell. "This is lucky,"
said he, "I can sleep here very well," and in he crept.
Just as he was falling asleep he heard two men passing,
and one said to the other, "How shall we manage to steal
that rich parson's silver and gold?" "I'll tell you!" cried
Tom. "What noise was that?" said the thief, frightened,
" I am sure I heard someone speak." They stood still listen-
ing, and Tom said, Take me with you, and I'll soon show
you how to get the parson's money." "But where are you?"
said they. "Look about on the ground," answered he, and
listen where the sound comes from."
At last the thieves found him out, and lifted him up in
their hands. "You little urchin!" said they, "what can you
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Tom Thumb
do for us?" "Why, I can get between the iron window-bars
of the parson's house, and throw you out whatever you want."
"That's a good thought," said the thieves; "come along, we
shall see what you can do."
When they came to the parson's house, Tom slipped
through the window-bars into the room, and then called out
as loud as he could bawl, Will you have all that is in here?"
At this the thieves were frightened, and said, "Softly, softly!
Speak low that you may not awaken anybody." But Tom
pretended not to understand them, and bawled out again,
"How much will you have? Shall I throw it all out?"
Now the cook lay in the next room, and hearing a noise
she raised herself in her bed and listened. Meantime the
thieves were frightened, and ran off to a little distance; but
at last they plucked up courage, and said, The little urchin
is only trying to make fools of us." So they came back and
whispered softly to him, saying, Now let us have no more of
your jokes, but throw out some of the money." Then Tom
called out as loud as he could, "Very well: hold your hands,
here it comes!"
The cook heard this quite plain, so she sprang out of bed
and ran to open the door. The thieves ran off as if a wolf
were at their tails; and the maid, having groped about and
found nothing, went away for a light. By the time she
returned, Tom had slipped off into the barn; and when the
cook had looked about and searched every hole and corner,
and found nobody, she went to bed, thinking she must have
been dreaming with her eyes open. The little man crawled
about in the hay-loft, and at last found a glorious place to
finish his night's rest in; so he laid himself down, meaning
to sleep till daylight, and then find his way home to his
father and mother.
But, alas! how cruelly was he disappointed; what crosses
and sorrows happen in this world! The cook got up early
before daybreak to feed the cows; she went straight to the
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hay-loft, and carried away a large bundle of hay with the little
man in the middle of it fast asleep. He still, however, slept
on, and did not awake till he found himself in the mouth of
the cow, who had taken him up with a mouthful of hay.
"Good lack-a-day!" said he, "how did I manage to tumble
into the mill?" But he soon found out where he really was,
and was obliged to have all his wits about him in order that
he might not get between the cow's teeth, and so be crushed
to death. At last down he went into her stomach. "It is
rather dark here," said he; "they forgot to build windows in
this room to let the sun in: a candle would be no bad thing."
Though he made the best of his bad luck, he did not like
his quarters at all; and the worst of it was, that more and
more hay was always coming down, and the space in which
he was became smaller and smaller. At last he cried out as
loud as he could, "Don't bring me any more hay! Don't
bring me any more hay!"
The maid happened to be just then milking the cow, and
hearing someone speak and seeing nobody, and yet being
quite sure it was the same voice that she had heard in the
night, she was so frightened that she fell off her stool and
overset the milk-pail. She ran off as fast as she could to her
master the parson, and said, "Sir, sir, the cow is talking!"
But the parson said, "Woman, thou art surely mad!" How-
ever, he went with her into the cowhouse to see what was the
matter. Scarcely had they set their foot on the threshold
when Tom called out, "Don't bring me any more hay!"
Then the parson himself was frightened; and thinking the
cow was surely bewitched, ordered that she should be killed
directly. So the cow was killed, and the stomach, in which
Tom lay, was thrown out upon a dunghill.
Tom soon set himself to work to get out, which was not
a very easy task; but at last, just as he had made room to get
his head out, a new misfortune befell him: a hungry wolf
sprang out, and swallowed the whole stomach, with Tom in
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"At last the thieves found him out"
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it, at a single gulp, and ran away. Tom, however, was not
disheartened; and thinking the wolf would not dislike having
some chat with him as he was going along, he called out,
" My good friend, I can show you a famous treat." "Where's
that?" said the wolf. In such and such a house," said Tom,
describing his father's house; "you can crawl through the
drain into the kitchen, and there you will find cakes, ham;
beef, and everything your heart can desire." The wolf did
not want to be asked twice; so that very night he went to
the house and crawled through the drain into the kitchen,
and ate and drank there to his heart's content. As soon as
he was satisfied, he wanted to get away; but he had eaten so
much that he could not get out the same way as he came in.
This was just what Tom had reckoned upon; and he now
began to set up a great shout, making all the noise he could.
"Will you be quiet?" said the wolf: "you'll awaken every-
body in the house."
"What's that to me?" said the little man: "you have had
your frolic, now I've a mind to be merry myself;" and he
began again singing and shouting as loud as he could.
The woodsman and his wife, being awakened by the noise,
peeped through a crack in the door; but when they saw that
the wolf was there, you may well suppose that they were
terribly frightened; and the woodsman ran for his axe, and
gave his wife a& scythe.
Now do you stay behind," said the woodsman; "and when
I have knocked him on the head, do you rip up his belly for
him with the scythe."
Tom heard all this, and said, "Father, father! I am here,
the wolf has swallowed me:" and his father said, Heaven be
praised! we have found our dear child again;" and he told his
wife not to use the scythe, for fear she should hurt him. Then
he aimed a great blow, and struck the wolf on the head, and
killed him on the spot; and when he was dead they cut open
his body and set Tom free.
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Tom Thumb
"Ah!" said the father, "what fears we have had for you!"
"Yes, father," answered he, "I have travelled all over the
world since we parted, in one way or other; and now I am
very glad to get fresh air again."
"Why, where have you been?" said his father.
"I have been in a mouse-hole, in a snail-shell, down a
cow's throat, and in the wolf's belly; and yet here I am again
safe and sound."
"Well," said they, "we will not sell you again for all the
riches in the world." So they hugged and kissed their dear
little son, and gave him plenty to eat and drink, and fetched
new clothes for him, for his old ones were quite spoiled on his
journey.
IL
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I | 1 ,
"The beast began to roar and bellow "
The Fox and the Horse
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The Fox and the Horse
A FARMER had a horse that had been an excellent faithful
servant to him: but he was now grown too old to work; so
the farmer would give him nothing more to eat, and said, "I
want you no longer, so take yourself off out of my stable; I
shall not take you back again until you are stronger than a
lion." Then he opened the door and turned him adrift.
The poor horse was very melancholy, and wandered up
and down in the wood, seeking some little shelter from the
cold wind and rain. Presently a fox met him: What's the
matter, my friend?" said he; "why do you hang down your
head and look so lonely and woebegone?" "Ah!" replied the
horse, "justice and avarice never dwell in one house; my
master has forgotten all that I have done for him so many
years, and because I can no longer work he has turned me
adrift, and says unless I become stronger than a lion he will
not take me back again. What chance can I have of that?
He knows I have none, or he would not talk so."
However, the fox bid him be of good cheer, and said, "I
will help you; lie down there, stretch yourself out quite stiff,
and pretend to be dead." The horse did as he was told, and
the fox went straight to the lion who lived in a cave close by,
and said to him, "A little way off lies a dead horse; come
with me and you may make an excellent meal of his carcase."
The lion was greatly pleased, and set off immediately; and
when they came to the horse, the fox said, "You will not be
able to eat him comfortably here; I'll tell you what-I will tie
you fast to his tail, and then you can draw him to your den,
and eat him at your leisure."
This advice pleased the lion, so he laid himself down
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quietly for the fox to make him fast to the horse. But the
fox managed to tie his legs together, and bound all so hard
and fast that with all his strength he could not set himself
free. When the work was done, the fox clapped the horse on
the shoulder, and said, "Jip! Dobbin! Jip!" Then up he
sprang, and moved off, dragging the lion behind him. The
beast began to roar and bellow, till all the birds of the wood
flew away for fright; but the horse let him sing on, and made
his way quietly over the fields to his master's house.
"Here he is, master," said he, "I have got the better of
him:" and when the farmer saw his old servant, his heart re-
lented, and he said, "You shall stay in your stable and be
well taken care of." And so the poor old horse had plenty to
eat, and lived-till he died.
Back
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Spine
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